Street gutter

A shallow channel along a street’s edge that collects and carries stormwater, often toward a drain.

Connect

Stormwater runoff: Rainwater or melted snow that flows over land instead of soaking into the ground. Runoff is the water the gutter collects and conveys.
Street: A public or private way in a built area, typically used by vehicles and often by pedestrians. A gutter is an edge feature of a street.
Urban drainage: The infrastructure and practices used to manage water in built-up areas. Street gutters form part of the surface network in urban drainage.
Combined sewer overflow: A discharge of untreated or partly treated wastewater and stormwater from a combined sewer during excess flow. Heavy gutter inflow can help trigger overflows in combined sewer systems.
Road crown: The raised centerline or high point of a road surface that directs water toward its edges. A crowned street sends surface flow toward its gutters.
Cross slope: The slope measured across a roadway, from its center or high side toward its edge. Cross slope determines how readily water moves toward the gutter.
Street sweeping: The removal of litter, sediment, and other material from paved streets using manual or mechanical methods. Sweeping removes pollutants before they wash through gutters into drains.
Nonpoint source pollution: Pollution entering water from diffuse sources rather than a single identifiable discharge point. Gutters route diffuse street pollutants toward water bodies and drainage systems.
Curb: A raised edge separating a roadway from a sidewalk or other roadside area. The curb bounds the gutter and helps keep runoff on the street.
Roadside drainage: The management of water along roads to limit flooding, erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Street gutters are one component of roadside drainage.