Storm Water Management - is it still a need or already a must?

For many years storm water was treated by municipalities and communities as minor problem. Therefore if a decision maker should decide where to invest , what to build first than drinking water supply or foul-water discharge system was a top priority. No negative impact of storm-water to human beings was announced. It was just storm water managed by local natural environment in a better or worst way. However some areas has been flooded periodically in spring and autumn time year by year. In 70’s of XXth century the problem with quality of water in natural water courses has arised in Western European countries where France, Germany and UK among them. The problem was caused by industrial and domestic sewage discharged directly or via limited treatment plants to natural water courses. This drove to the situation where natural water course was just a sewer line. Just “5 minutes to midnight” some actions were taken to support the natural environment and protect against destructive human influence. In that time storm water was incorporated with general idea of water management as one of most important element linked directly with natural water cycle. Now-a-days in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries the storm water management and natural water cycle is of great importance. Mostly of increasing volume of storm water due to high urbanization process as well as quality of storm water (environment protection). There are many solutions for water management available on the market where natural and hitech ones are among them. What is possible? What is available? Which ones are the best? How to make the right decision?