×

Resources

A Guide to Flooding in Philadelphia | Philadelphia’s Citywide Flood Risk Management Task Force, 2017

This guide was designed as a tool to support property owners and residents.

Tips for Defending Rate Increases | RCAP, 2021

Navigating the misperceptions, lack of or false information around rate increase and how to communicate accurate information to your rate base.
Type: Technical

Items to Consider When Calculating a Water Tap Fee | RCAP, 2021

A check list of costs to consider when considering to calculate a water tap or stormwater fee. Costs to include such as labor, equipment, etc.
Type: Technical

National Video Resource Library | RCAP, 2021

The National Video Resource Library has a variety of resources that are useful to small, rural drinking water and wastewater systems.
Type: Technical

Resources Library | RCAP, 2021

The online RCAP Resources Library has a variety of resources that are useful to small, rural drinking water and wastewater systems.

Comparison of Continental Hydrological Models Helps Improve Water Management | Princeton University, 2021

For the US, two enormous models have been developed that capture hydrological processes—from forecasting floods to predicting groundwater levels.

National Flood Insurance Community Rating System | FEMA, 2021

(CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed minimum NFIP requirements.

EnviroAtlas | US EPA

The EnviroAtlas Interactive Map is a discover and analysis tool. To begin, you can choose to tour, learn, or explore on your own.
Type: Technical

Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) Risk Assessment Application for Water Utilities | US EPA, 2021

CREAT allows users to evaluate potential impacts of climate change on their utility and to evaluate adaptation options to address them.
Type: Technical

Navigator’s Checklist

Navigator's Checklist for Managing Local Flood and Stormwater Challenges
Type: Technical

The Pillars of Water Equity | US Water Alliance, 2021

This resource is the framework section of US Water Alliance's water equity clearninghouse. Other sections include Search and Explanation of Terms.
Type: Technical

National Flood Insurance Program Terminology Index | FEMA

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) terminology index is a list of floodplain management terms, plus regulations, policies, and guidance.
Type: Technical

Appendix D: FEMA Glossary | FEMA

A list of flood related technical terms and their definitions.
Type: Technical

EPA Glossary of Terms | US EPA

EPA offers a glossary of terms for those in EPA regulations or other official documents.
Type: Technical

Community Led Research Toolkit | River Network, 2021

This resources provides tools for equitable climate resilience and fostering community-led research and knowledge.
Type: Case Study

Etna Green Infrastructure Master Plan Demonstration Project | Buchart Horn, INC., 2014

This resource is an example Master to address stormwater runoff in Etna, PA.
Type: Case Study

Enhanced Model Stormwater Ordinance | New Jersey Future, 2021

This resource serves as a new tool to help towns update their stormwater ordinance to increase green infrastructure and reduce flood risk.
Type: Technical

Flood Funding Finder | American Flood Coalition, 2021

This resource serves as a free, interactive digital tool that simplifies the federal grant access process.
Type: Financial

Integrated Planning for Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater | US EPA, 2021

This resource provides approaches and additional resources for planning and integration of Municipal Stormwater and Waste Water
Type: Technical

Power Corps PHL | Americorps

PowerCorpsPHL is a cross-sector collaborative model that engages disconnected young adults and returning citizens to the environment and new careers.
Type: Case Study

Community Resilience Benchmarks | ANCR, 2020

This resource is intended to prompt stormwater decision makers to make sure their community is resilient against flooding.
Type: Technical

CREAT Risk Assessment Application for Water Utilities | US EPA, 2020

This resource will help you identify grey infrastructure vulnerabilities within your system.
Type: Technical

Solving Water Challenges in Disadvantaged Communities: A Handbook to Understanding the Issues in California and Best Practices for Engagement | Water Education Foundation, 2018

This resource is intended for anyone in, or involved with, communities throughout CA to connect with agencies that can help.
Type: Technical

Community Adaptation Program | The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, 2020

NORA expects the program to divert and detain stormwater runoff on over 200 properties with an average grant award between $10,000 and $25,000.
Type: Case Study

A Multi-Benefit Approach to Water Management | Pacific Institute, 2021

This resource explores how to develop solutions to flood and stormwater challenges through Multiple Benefits.
Type: Technical

Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan | City of Atlanta, 2018

This plan provides recommended actions included within: policy, funding and planning, project implementation, partnering and outreach and analysis.
Type: Case Study

An Equitable Water Future: A National Briefing Paper | US Water Alliance, 2017

This resource includes two primary sections: Part One: Water Stress and Vulnerable Communities and Part Two: The Pillars of Water Equity.
Type: Technical

San Francisco Bay Region Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit | California Regional Water Control Board, 2015

This resource includes cited regulatory and legal references and additional explanatory information in support of the requirements of this Permit.
Type: Case Study

Atlas 14 Point Precipitation Frequency Estimates: KS | NOAA

This resource serves as a tool to obtain predictive information for your geographic area on precipitation depth and intensity.
Type: Technical

Project Accelerator | WaterNow Alliance

This resource provides free assistance via hands-on support to get your water initiative off the ground.
Type: Technical

Technical Assistance Organizations | US EPA

This resource provides a list of drinking water organizations in New England who provide technical assistance to public water systems.
Type: Technical

Circuit Rider Program | USDA Rural Development

The program offers technical assistance for rural water systems that are experiencing operational, financial or managerial issues.
Type: Technical

The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

(RCAP) is a non-profit network of six regional organizations that are working to support and advocate on behalf of rural and tribal communities.
Type: Technical

Environmental Finance Centers | US EPA

EPA provides grant funding to these ten university-based environmental outreach programs.

CDBG: Community Development Block Grant Programs | HUD Exchange

Resources to assist HUD's community partners. The CARES Act and Disaster Recovery Program are two relevant programs that support water projects.
Type: Financial

State Revolving Fund (SRF) Resources | Southwest Environmental Finance Center

This resource provides a repository of information for each state's State Revolving Fund programs. Click on a state to navigate to its resources.
Type: Financial

Manage Floodplain Risk | FEMA

This resource provides information on how to meet the National Flood Insurance Program Requirements - the most affordable way to reduce flood risk.
Type: Technical

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants | FEMA

This resource provides funding for eligible mitigation measure that reduce disaster losses and currently has 5 grant programs.
Type: Financial

Ask an Expert Portal | WaterNow Alliance

Once an inquiry has been submitted, TiR experts respond within 5 business days either with an answer to the inquiry or to set up a call.
Type: Technical

Stormwater Fee Literature Review | Chagrin River Watershed Partners, 2017

This resource provides information on the formation of stormwater utilities and collection of stormwater fees in the United States.
Type: Technical

Community Stormwater Solutions Grant | Department of Energy & Environment

The Community Stormwater Solutions Grant Program provides funding for innovative, community-oriented and –inspired projects.
Type: Financial

Community Buy-in for Stormwater Funding: An EPA Roundtable Discussion | US EPA, 2020

This resource describes the EPA Roundtable Series Piloted in 2017 and 2018 by the EPA Office of Research and Development.
Type: Technical

“Selling” Stormwater Authorities: Tips for Gaining Community Support | New Jersey Water Works, 2014

This resource provides 5 recommendations on how to communicate a stormwater fee to the community.
Type: Technical

Community Engagement in the Water Sector | Cooperative Research Center for Water Sensitive Cities, 2016

This resource is an outcome-focused review of different community and stakeholder engagement approaches.
Type: Technical

Developing a Methodology for Community Engagement with an Emphasis on Stormwater Management Preferences | University of Florida, 2013

This resource provides a comprehensive analysis of stormwater management methods and approaches, design guidelines, and potential concerns.
Type: Technical

Stormwater Utility Toolkit | American Rivers

This resource outlines the common steps that communities can follow when developing a stormwater utility and getting the community on board.
Type: Technical

Customer Advisory Committee | New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, 2020

This resource describes why and how the The Sewerage and Water Board Customer Advisory Commitee was created in New Orleans, LA.
Type: Case Study

Evaluation of the Role of Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement in Stormwater Funding Decisions in New England: Lessons from Communities | US EPA, 2013

This resource is intended for MS4 communities considering various options to fund their stormwater programs.
Type: Technical

Enacting, Implementing & Funding Stormwater Programs | NACWA, 2016

This resource is a white paper that provides legal considerations for funding municipal stormwater programs.
Type: Technical

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grants | FEMA

Funds available for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to property insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Type: Financial

Stormwater Financing and Outreach | UMD EFC

This resource provides a series of stormwater and flood management case studies.
Type: Case Study

National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies | NAFSMA

This resource includes two relevant committees: Stormwater Management Committee and Flood Management Committee.
Type: Technical

Funding Stormwater Programs | US EPA, 2008

This resource is intended to assist local stormwater managers understand the alternatives available to fund their stormwater program.
Type: Financial

Stormwater Fees: Overview of Municipal Stormwater Fee Programs | PEC, 2019

Key sections include: stormwater within your municipality, stormwater fee calculations, and development and implementation.
Type: Financial

Guidance for Municipal Stormwater Funding | US EPA, 2006

This resource provides a series of high-level stormwater funding and financing considerations.
Type: Financial

Federal and State Funding Programs- Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Projects | US EPA, 2017

This resource provides a list of 23 federal and state grant opportunities for stormwater and green infrastructure projects.
Type: Financial

Asset Management Programs for Stormwater and Wastewater Systems: Overcoming Barriers to Development and Implementation | US EPA, 2017

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical steps to be considered during AMP development and highlight real-world barriers to development.
Type: Technical

Urban Water Funders | The Funders Network

This resource serves as a matching grant program that enhances local capacity to build equitable and sustainable communities in the United States.
Type: Financial

Tap into Resilience Toolkit | WaterNow Alliance

This toolkit addresses financial and legal questions that arise when scaling investment in decentralized stormwater management solutions.
Type: Financial

Potential Funding Sources, New Jersey Stormwater Utility Resource Center | New Jersey Futures, 2020

This resource describes the usage of fees to fund the planning work to create a stormwater utility and tabulates various funding opportunities.
Type: Financial

National League of Cities Grant Opportunities | NLC

NLC provides hands on technical assistance, education, and training in addition to supporting cities to connect with funding opportunities
Type: Financial

Stormwater Facilities Operation and Maintenance Plan | XYZ Corporation, 2018

This document provides example Inspection and Maintenance Logs and how to respond when responsible individuals change.
Type: Technical

Operations and Maintenance Plans by infrastructure Type | The City of Portland Oregon, 2020

This resource describes various stormwater infrastructure types as well as “most popular” and “most recent” deployed in various settings.
Type: Technical

Create a Municipal Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan | Land Studies, 2020

This resource is for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) communities and details pollution prevention and best management practices.
Type: Technical

National Stormwater Calculator | US EPA, 2017

This tool is a software application intended to help users control runoff and promote the natural movement of water.
Type: Technical

The Building Blocks of An Effective Stormwater Management Plan | MOST, 2015

This tool is a free 1.5 hour online course designed to provide skills to develop an effective stormwater management plan and communicating the basics
Type: Technical

Financing Stormwater Retrofits in Philadelphia and Beyond | NRDC, 2012

This resource explores how to entice private investment in stormwater retrofit projects.
Type: Case Study

Subdivision Design and Flood Hazard Areas | APA, 2016

This resource serves to make the case for better flood management and highlights the value of an integrated community approach.
Type: Technical

Know your Flood Risk and Take Action | FEMA, 2020

Learn how to Identify what properties are in the flood zone within your municipal boundary. Know your risk, know your role, and take action.
Type: Technical

Toolbox for Completing an Alternatives Analysis as Part of an Integrated Planning Approach to Water Quality Compliance Research Investment | WERF, 2019

This tool is free to use, but in order to access it you will need to create a Public Plus account here: https://www.waterrf.org/user/register.
Type: Technical

Making the Right Choice for Your Utility: Using Sustainability Criteria for Water Infrastructure Decision Making | US EPA, 2015

The purpose of this report is to provide a process for utilities to compare a range of infrastructure alternatives objectively via 4 planning elements
Type: Technical

Green Infrastructure: Build, Learn, Partner | US EPA

This resource provides and expands upon three broad categories regarding green infrastructure: build, learn, and partner.
Type: Technical

A Guide to Assessing Green Infrastructure Costs and Benefits for Flood Reduction | NOAA, 2015

This resource provides a 6-step framework to inform planning assessments and prompt conversations regarding green infrastructure.
Type: Technical

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Municipal Stormwater Programs | US EPA, 2008

This resource outlines the purpose and evaluates the effectiveness of municipal stormwater programs.
Type: Technical

One Water Roadmap | US Water Alliance, 2016

See specific sections: Watershed-scale thinking and action, Arenas for Action and Arenas and Strategies for Action to work on developing goals
Type: Technical

Estimating Benefits and Costs of Stormwater Management, Part 1: Methods and Challenges | EFC at Sacramento State, 2019

This resource provides information on methods and approaches to analyze benefits and costs of stormwater management practices.
Type: Technical

Urban Stormwater Management in the United States | National Research Defense Council, 2008

This resource aims to understand the connection between stormwater pollutant discharges and water quality to assess current management practices.
Type: Technical

Technical References for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping | US EPA

This resource provides list of 8 technical references essential to the success of a program, yet are not considered to be standards.
Type: Technical

The Growing Threat of Urban Flooding: A National Challenge | Texas A&M University, 2018

This resource provides information on the effects of floods across the United States.
Type: Technical

Estimating the Value of Water: A Literature Review | US EPA, 2017

This resource provides insight into ecosystem service benefits and corresponding case studies.
Type: Case Study

Flood Risk Templates and Other Resources | FEMA, 2019

This resource provides a variety of documents used to support the implementation of Flood Risk Projects. This is a "searchable resource."
Type: Technical

Flood Factor | First Street Foundation

This resource serves as a tool to help residents identify their home's flood risk.
Type: Technical

City of Tigard Stormwater Master Plan | 2017

The Plan addresses Tigard’s existing flooding, water quality, erosion, and maintenance issues, and provides several corresponding recommendations.
Type: Case Study

Where can I find Flood Maps? | USGS

This resource breaks down the purpose of various flood maps developed by FEMA, NOAA, and USGS.
Type: Technical

State and Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans | Georgetown University,

To prepare for climate change, states and communities have begun planning processes that typically result in the development of an adaptation plan.
Type: Technical

Summary of State Stormwater Standards (Post Construction) | US EPA, 2011

See Table 1 for Post Construction Stormwater Standards by state (pages 1-7).
Type: Technical

Methods for Mapping Stormwater Infrastructure | AppGeo, 2018

Stormwater infrastructure mapping is often required for MS4 compliance and can provide useful data and insight to be used for other planning purposes.
Type: Technical

Sources and Solutions: Stormwater | US EPA, 2019

In urbanized areas, precipitation is unable to adequately infiltrate into the ground, increasing runoff and overwhelming the sewer system.
Type: Technical

Identify Your Community’s Stormwater Situation | New Jersey Future

The first thing to consider when establishing a stormwater utility is to acknowledge what you envision for your community now and in the future.
Type: Technical

Guidelines and Standards for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping Activities Under the Risk MAP Program | FEMA, 2020

The guidelines and standards define the implementation details of the statutory and regulatory requirements for National Flood Insurance Program map.
Type: Technical

Impaired Waters and Stormwater | US EPA, 2019

This resource provides guidance in assessing impaired waters potentially contaminated with pollutants from stormwater sources.
Type: Technical

Stormwater Sampling Guidance Document | US EPA, NPDES, 1992

This manual provides background for stormwater sampling, fundamentals of sampling, analytical considerations, flexibility in sampling, and safety.
Type: Technical

Water Quality Scorecard | US EPA, 2018

See specific section: Table 1 for Water Quality Scorecard Quick Reference Guide (pages 7-9)
Type: Technical

Technical Assistance Organizations | Drinking Water in New England | US EPA, 2017

This resource provides external EPA links to Technical Assistance organizations for the New England Region and by state: CT, ME, MA,
Type: Technical

Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority: A Wet Weather Case Study of Incorporating Community Interests into Effective Infrastructure Decision Makings | US EPA, 2018

See specific sections: The Problem: Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), Need for a Long-Term Control Plan, and Camden’s Sewershed Alternatives Analysis
Type: Case Study

The Water Center at Penn and WaterNow Alliance Flood and Stormwater Management Guide

With support from the Kresge Foundation

How this guide works

Get Started

For the best experience get started in the beginning.

Tap in
Address *
Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal
Would you like to become a WaterNow member? It's free to join. *