Stormwater Management

Where Does Our Water Go?

Stormwater runoff is any water from rain, melted snow, or outdoor home usage that is not absorbed into the ground. This water flows over hard, or impervious surfaces (such as paved streets, driveways, parking lots, rooftops) collecting debris, chemicals, sediment, or other pollutants that could adversely affect the quality of our water if left untreated. The stormwater in Chagrin Falls drains to small creeks that flow into the Chagrin River, then out to Lake Erie.

Stormwater Management Program

With the Chagrin River and its waterfalls being the focal point of the Village, preventing pollution of this majestic waterway is the utmost of importance. In 2003, the USEPA and the Ohio EPA implemented stormwater regulations to improve and protect water quality. Under these Phase II regulations, communities are required to have a stormwater management plan and receive a permit from the EPA to allow stormwater discharge into open waterways. The six components of the stormwater management plan include:

  1. Public Education
  2. Public Involvement
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  4. Construction Site Runoff Control
  5. Post Construction Site Runoff Control
  6. Good Housekeeping of Municipal Operations

The EPA Phase II regulation program is intended to further reduce adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic habitat by instituting the use of controls on unregulated sources of stormwater discharges that have the greatest likelihood of causing continued environmental degradation.

The Chagrin River Watershed Partners Inc.

The Village of Chagrin Falls is working to make sure that creeks and streams running through our community are clean and free of pollutants to help keep the Chagrin River and Lake Erie watershed a healthy place for our use d enjoyment. To assist with these efforts, the Village works with the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc., a non-profit group formed to address increasing concerns about flooding, erosion, and water quality problems. The CRWP provides technical assistance to members and develops cost effective solutions to minimize new, and address current water quality and quantity problems.

What You Can Do

There are many ways that you can help keep our water clean, save money, and prevent problems. Here are some brochures and flyers with further information: