Stormwater Management Division

Out in the Field

In the Community

Resources

Stormwater Roadside Ditch Maintenance Brochure (PDF)
"After the Storm" Brochure (PDF) (Information on Preventing Stormwater Pollution)
Dismal Swamp Canal Study (Stormwater quantity and quality feasibility study)
Watershed Studies, Reports and Maps

Report It!

If you see a company or citizen dumping an illicit discharge down a catch basin, in a ditch, etc. please report it by calling 757-382-CITY (2489). Provide as much information as possible (license plate of car, what they appear to be dumping, etc.) and a stormwater employee will be dispatched to investigate the situation.

Pet Waste Stations

Get a free pet waste station for your community! Learn more at the Pet Waste Station webpage. Get yours before they're all gone!

Drainage Problems?

Chesapeake Stormwater Operations manages the City's vast network of stormwater ditches, pipes and structures. If you experience problems with the system that is resulting in flooding, call the Customer Contact Center at 757-382-2489 to report the problem as soon as possible! Most requests for assistance are investigated within 14 working days.

FAQs

Why do I have to pay a stormwater bill?

Rainwater falling on rooftops, pavement, and other impervious surfaces runs off in greater quantity and contains more pollutants than rain falling on unimproved forests and grasslands. In developed areas, this runoff must be managed to keep it from causing flooding and to remove the pollutants before it is discharged into streams and rivers. The revenue generated from the stormwater fee is used to maintain ditches, piped systems, and other stormwater structures, and also to ensure that pollutants carried by stormwater runoff are removed before the runoff reaches our waterways.

What is a BMP Credit?

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are devices used for on-site control of stormwater runoff and provide water quality improvements. Examples of BMPs include wet retention ponds, dry retention ponds, grass swales with check dams, and infiltration devices. Non-residential property owners who use BMPs can apply for a credit in stormwater fees.

What is an ERU?

An Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) is equal to the average impervious area determined from an evaluation of all the residential parcels within the City. For Chesapeake, 1 ERU equals 2,112 square feet.

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