Rio Rancho Requirements to Protect City Stormwater Quality

This rule establishes guidelines for stormwater quality protection, this includes: 2(e) Where practicable, BMPs will be selected and designed to first and primarily manage flow from the contributing area impervious surfaces. Selected BMPs should include the following elements to improve on-site stormwater runoff quality:

1. Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, during construction to drain to vegetated areas.

2. Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas, roof and concrete driveways.

3. Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces where allowable (e.g., gravel, permeable pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete) that minimize runoff.

4. Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting beds or landscaped areas to maximize site water capture and reuse.

5. Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems consistent with current New Mexico State Engineer guidance.

6. Incorporate beds, swales, basins and other such features to manage stormwater and dry weather runoff (e.g., irrigation system overspray) and increase percolation into the soil for landscape use