Why is stormwater management important?

Stormwater that cannot seep into the ground collects pollutants, such as petroleum products, soaps, detergents, and lawn fertilizer. The stormwater travels into drainage systems, which carry the pollutants to the Mill River, Saugus River, Lake Quannapowitt, Crystal Lake, and other surface water bodies in Wakefield.

Effective storm water management by the community helps protect valuable water resources. Additionally, it helps to reduce flooding and riverbank erosion.