Managing the quantity and quality of stormwater is termed, "Stormwater Management."[5] The term Best Management Practice (BMP) is often used to refer to both structural or engineered control devices and systems (e.g. retention ponds) to treat polluted stormwater, as well as operational or procedural practices. There are many forms of stormwater management and BMPs, including:

• manage stormwater to control flooding and erosion;
• manage and control hazardous materials to prevent release of pollutants into the environment (source  control);
• plan and construct stormwater systems so contaminants are removed before they pollute surface waters or groundwater resources;
• acquire and protect natural waterways where they still exist or can be rehabilitated;
• build "soft" structures such as ponds, swales or wetlands to work with existing or "hard" drainage structures, such as pipes and concrete channels;
• revise current stormwater regulations to address comprehensive stormwater needs;
• enhance and enforce existing ordinances to make sure property owners consider the effects of stormwater before, during and after development of their land;
• educate a community about how its actions affect water quality, and about what it can do to improve water quality; and
• plan carefully to create solutions before problems become too great.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormwater#Stormwater_Management