EPA recognizes Fairfax County for storm water project

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Fairfax County, Va. as a leader in promoting environmentally-friendly development that controls storm water runoff and helps protect the environment.

The county was recognized specifically for a storm water project at Merrifield Fire Station 30 in Fairfax that collects and filters storm water runoff from paved surfaces and roofs to reduce erosion and pollution runoff to Accotink Creek. The project, which was coordinated with the Northern Virginia Soil and Conservation Service, uses three low impact development technologies: a green roof, permeable pavers and a rain garden.

“The storm water retrofit project in Fairfax County serves as a great example of what municipalities and other organizations can do to protect the environment by controlling storm water runoff,” said Donald S. Welsh, administrator for EPA’s mid Atlantic Region. “Retaining as much storm water as possible on land – rather than letting it run to storm drains – can help keep harmful flows and pollutants out of our streams and rivers.”

Fairfax County was recognized under the Leadership in Low Impact Development Recognition Program that was created by a cooperative agreement between EPA’s mid-Atlantic region and the Low Impact Development Center in Beltsville, Md. to highlight exceptional efforts in storm water management.

Low impact development is a storm water management strategy concerned with maintaining or restoring the natural hydrologic functions of a site to achieve natural resource protection objectives. Low impact development addresses storm water through small, cost-effective site design and landscape.