The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s new stormwater runoff rules went into effect March 2 in all municipalities, requiring new development to implement “green infrastructure,” such as pervious paving, bio-retention basins, vegetated swales, rain gardens and cisterns to manage stormwater runoff.

The use of green infrastructure encourages the idea that stormwater is a resource that can be reused, instead of being treated as a nuisance that needs to be removed as quickly as possible.