# Stormwater
Urbanisation of our towns and cities has resulted in a dramatic increase in hard and impervious surfaces, such as buildings, roads and car parks. Designing buildings to reduce stormwater runoff improves the quality of our waterways.
In the Stormwater category, BESS includes actions regarding stormwater treatment. You must meet the Urban Stormwater Management Best Practice standards for water quality (CSIRO, 1999), e.g. through min 100% STORM score, or compliant MUSIC model. Other stormwater considerations that are not captured in BESS but are also important include:
- For industrial developments - containing polluting activities within the canopy line or within a bunded area
- Installing gross pollutant traps where hardstand paving drains to SW system
- Installing pervious paving where appropriate