Storm water is precipitation that accumulates in our surroundings during and immediately following a storm event. The runoff water that accumulates is dispensed through the natural and artificial storm water infrastructure such as inlets, pipes, headwalls, culverts, ditches, creeks, and rivers. All the elements that constitute the storm water network are mapped using GPS technology and stored in a GIS database. There are a total of 27 different feature types in the GIS database, each with several attributes to describe their properties.  A storm water pipe, for example, is stored in the GIS database as a linear feature and has attributes such as pipe diameter, pipe material, and ownership, just to name a few.   As of June 2005 there are 109,480 storm water features in the database and more are mapped daily by GPS crews.  On average, over a hundred features are added or field checked everyday. 

The GIS department has compiled information on stormwater basins, subbasins, outfall basins, and outfalls within the City of Huntsville.  This information includes maps, charts, and tables detailing the location, acreage, and land use of basins and outfall basins.  The complete Study can be purchased in the Planning Department for $15.