thumb|right|Map showing locations of 28 NURP projects

The Nationwide Urban Runoff Program (NURP) was a research project conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) between 1979 and 1983. It was the first comprehensive study of urban stormwater pollution across the United States.

Study objectives

The principal focus areas of the study consisted of:

  • Examine the water quality aspects of urban runoff, and a comparison of results across various urban sites
  • Assess the impact of urban runoff on overall water quality
  • Implement stormwater management best practices.

An interesting finding of the NURP was that street sweeping was considered to be, "ineffective as a technique for improving the quality of urban runoff". EPA published national stormwater regulations in 1990 and 1999. EPA and state agencies began issuing stormwater permits in 1991. See Stormwater management permits.

About "NURP ponds"

The term "NURP ponds" refers to retention basins (also called "wet ponds") that capture sediment from stormwater runoff as it is detained, and that are designed to perform to the level of the more effective ponds observed in the NURP studies. Some practitioners may assume that a "NURP pond" design conforms to some particular standard issued by EPA, but in fact EPA has issued no regulations or other requirements regarding the design of stormwater ponds. (However, some states and municipalities have issued stormwater design manuals, and these publications may include a reference to a "NURP pond".)

See also

  • Green infrastructure
  • Stormwater management
  • Water pollution in the United States

References

  • EPA Stormwater Permit Program
  • EPA Nonpoint Source Management Program