storm sewer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical, Urban Planning, Engineering, Municipal
Quick answer
What does “storm sewer” mean?
An underground pipe or channel designed to carry away excess rainwater and surface runoff from streets, parking lots, and other developed areas to prevent flooding.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An underground pipe or channel designed to carry away excess rainwater and surface runoff from streets, parking lots, and other developed areas to prevent flooding.
The infrastructure system comprising drains, pipes, and outfalls used for urban stormwater management, distinct from sanitary sewers that carry household wastewater.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the more common term is 'surface water sewer' or 'storm drain'. 'Storm sewer' is understood but is an Americanism.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both dialects. The British term 'surface water sewer' is more semantically transparent.
Frequency
"Storm sewer" is high-frequency in American technical/municipal contexts; "surface water sewer" is standard in UK technical documentation.
Grammar
How to Use “storm sewer” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] storm sewer [VERB]...[NOUN] was discharged into the storm sewer.A network of storm sewers [VERB]...The [PLACE] storm sewer systemVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “storm sewer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The runoff was channelled into the surface water sewer.
- The new development must not overload the existing sewer system.
American English
- The contractor will storm-sewer the entire subdivision.
- The street was finally storm-sewered last year.
adjective
British English
- The surface-water sewer network requires upgrading.
- We reviewed the storm-sewer capacity calculations.
American English
- The storm-sewer grate was clogged with leaves.
- A major storm-sewer project is underway downtown.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in construction, engineering, or municipal contracting.
Academic
Common in civil engineering, urban planning, and environmental science papers.
Everyday
Low-frequency; used during flooding events or infrastructure discussions.
Technical
High-frequency precise term in civil engineering and public works.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “storm sewer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “storm sewer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “storm sewer”
- Confusing it with a 'sanitary sewer'. Using 'sewer' alone ambiguously. Misspelling as 'storm sewar'. Pronouncing 'sewer' like the occupation 'sewer' (/ˈsəʊə/ vs /ˈsuːə/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. Storm sewer water (rainwater runoff) is usually discharged directly into rivers, lakes, or the sea, unlike sanitary sewer water which goes to a treatment plant.
A storm sewer carries rainwater and surface runoff. A sanitary sewer carries wastewater from sinks, toilets, and showers to a treatment facility. They are separate systems in modern cities.
You usually see the inlets (grates or drains in the street curb) where water enters. The pipes themselves are buried underground.
Because it flows directly into natural waterways without treatment, polluting rivers, lakes, and harming aquatic life.
An underground pipe or channel designed to carry away excess rainwater and surface runoff from streets, parking lots, and other developed areas to prevent flooding.
Storm sewer is usually technical, urban planning, engineering, municipal in register.
Storm sewer: in British English it is pronounced /stɔːm ˈsuːə/, and in American English it is pronounced /stɔːrm ˈsuːɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Everything but the kitchen sink goes down the storm sewer.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STORM bringing heavy RAIN, and a SEWER that carries only that rain away (not toilet waste). It's the RAIN-SEWER.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTERIES OF THE CITY (for moving excess water), NATURE'S TOILET (for things dumped into it).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a storm sewer?