FAQ

Effectively managing stormwater is vital to healthy, resilient Gulf Coast communities. When our Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater are put in place, we can mitigate future flooding dangers and costs, improve regional water quality, and beautify public spaces. Find out more about how we manage stormwater here.

There are many ways to improve water quality in your region that start in your own home, such as:

• • Water-smart Landscaping: Learn how to have a pretty, low maintenance, and water-smart lawn.
  • Rainwater Harvesting: Find the right harvesting system for you.
  • Household Hazardous Waste: Household Hazardous Waste - Learn how to identify and properly dispose of hazardous waste.
  • Septic System Maintenance: Find out how septic systems function and malfunction.
• • Be a Responsible Pet Owner: Learn why properly disposing of pet waste is so important and how you can help.
  • Permeable Pavement: Discover pervious alternatives to concrete and how they can improve water quality.

Click here for a list of resources organized by coastal county.

Rainwater harvesting systems are great ways to turn stormwater runoff from a problem into a solution! Rain barrels or cisterns can be installed to capture and store stormwater runoff from rooftops for later use in indoor and outdoor settings. Find out more about the benefits and maintenance requirements of a system here.

Looking to build your own rainwater harvesting system or wondering about the design process? Click here to explore some helpful information, courtesy of Texas Center for Environmental Quality. Questions about the specifics of rainwater harvesting systems? Click here to learn more from the Texas Water Development Board.

Click here for a list of drop off sites and county contacts for HHW in your area.

Right here! Click here to see some of our printable guides — from easy steps you can take in your own backyard to information on upgrading old buildings to be more stormwater savvy.

There are many ways to update existing infrastructure to better handle stormwater and runoff. One way we can improve already developed spaces is through a process called retrofitting. Retrofitting uses new technology or design approaches to revitalize an existing space and improve our stormwater treatment and storage. By putting "Best Management Practices" or BMPs in place, we can correct design flaws and better address stormwater runoff. Click here to learn more and download a guide to retrofitting.

Additionally, by including green infrastructure in updates and breaking up impervious cover we can increase stormwater infiltration in the local environment's groundwater reserves. Explore Chapter 6 of our Stormwater Management Manual to find out how new installations or upgrades can be incorporated into existing developments to better address stormwater runoff and increase resiliency.

There are many grant resources available for communities to obtain funds and resources to support the design and implementation of water quality retrofit projects, flood management projects, programs, watershed protection land management activities, education, and other efforts.

The Texas General Land Office maintains information on coastal management funding opportunities as well as a user-friendly database of projects currently funded along the coast. Click here for a one-pager of additional grant resources.

Click here to contact us with additional questions or concerns.