Drains in the
gutter, designed to
shuttle away storm
water in
urban or
suburban areas. Developed areas that feature
homes,
offices, and
retail stores cover up the
ground with
buildings, and
pave surrounding areas with non-
permeable surfaces, like
sidewalks,
driveways, and
roads). Thus, rain, instead of being absorbed by the ground, is channeled away from houses, usually into the
streets. To prevent
flooding of streets, drains are added to gutters.
Most storm drains do not drain to the local sewer system-- whatever enters the drain is discharged directly into local waterways (creeks, streams, flood channels, rivers). This is why urban runoff, suburban runoff, and non-point source pollution are often the biggest cause of water pollution, and why local environmental groups may champion storm drain stencilling projects to raise awareness and protect watersheds.
It's also why it's not a good idea to dump leftover paint, cleaner, antifreeze, used oil, soap, pet waste or yard waste into the gutter.
Grates on storm drains
parallel to the direction of the
roadway can be a
hazard for
bicyclists, as the openings in them can catch
tires.
During times of high flooding, the
force of water entering drains may be strong enough
trap a person, making for
dramatic television (either on the
news, or
staged for dramatic effect on "
reality" shows or
dramas).