storm drain
Curbside water inlet
A storm drain is an opening in a street or curb that channels rainwater into underground pipes, preventing flooding.
The grated openings are familiar urban features: The kids watched their paper boat disappear into the storm drain.
Storm drains typically lead to waterways rather than sewage treatment, so pollutants wash directly into rivers and oceans.
Grated pit collecting runoff
- grateFramework of metal bars
- culvertTunnel for water passage
- inletWater extending into land
- outfallDrainage discharge point
conduit · manhole · gutter · pipe · channel · concrete · curb · opening
Exceed capacity and spill
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- cloggedBlocked by buildup
- submergePlunge beneath liquid
- surgeSudden powerful increase
capacity · overwhelm · inundation · engulf · swamped · waterlogged · saturated · standing water
Collected atmospheric moisture
- stormwaterSurface flow from precipitation
- surface waterWater on land's exterior
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
downpour · puddle · flow · diversion · collection · channeling · parking lot · urban runoff
Scattered waste or debris
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- contaminantsUnwelcome substances in something pure
trash · plastic · chemicals · fertilizer · pesticides · microplastics · filter · screen
catch basin
Grated pit collecting runoff
outfall · conduit · manhole · gutter · pipe · channel · concrete · curb · opening · subsurface
overflow
Exceed capacity and spill
surge · capacity · overwhelm · inundation · engulf · swamped · waterlogged · saturated · standing water · flash flood
rainwater
Collected atmospheric moisture
- stormwaterSurface flow from precipitation
- surface waterWater on land's exterior
- watershedDrainage area boundary
precipitation · downpour · puddle · flow · diversion · collection · channeling · parking lot · urban runoff
litter
Scattered waste or debris
contaminants · trash · plastic · chemicals · fertilizer · pesticides · microplastics · filter · screen · environmental impact
habitat
Organism's natural environment
mosquito · breeding · ecosystem · urban wildlife · amphibian · critter · nesting · shelter · pennywise · alligator
- underground accessmanhole, subway entrance, mine shaft, sewer grate, cellar door
- underground passagestunnel, adit, drift, subway, mine shaft
- water managementwater supply, dam, water district, water authority, water allocation
- public worksstreets, sidewalks, sewers, traffic lights, stop sign
- street featuressidewalk, crosswalk, curb, lamppost, street sign
- street scenesidewalk, crosswalk, curb, street sign, streetlight
storm drainwater main
Principal urban pipe
water supply line · irrigation system · aqueduct · water intake · fire hydrant
storm, drain, stormy, drained, draining, storming, storms, drainage, drains