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Stormwater Monitoring location to evaluate treatment facility effectiveness. |
The Water Quality and Stormwater Program provides guidance and technical support to planning, design, construction, and maintenance offices to help WSDOT enhance project delivery and achieve compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, and State Water Quality Laws (RCW 90.48, WAC 173-201A, and WAC 173-270).
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) extended the
NPDES program to include stormwater discharges. The primary objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. The NPDES permit program is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) primary enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the CWA’s provisions. EPA regulations require NPDES permits for discharges from four broad categories of stormwater discharges:
- Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)
- Construction activity
- Industrial activity
- Sand and gravel activity
WSDOT has permit coverage under all four of these categories.
More on WSDOT NPDES stormwater permits.
NPDES Annual Progress Reports
WSDOT submits annual reports to the Department of Ecology summarizing activities undertaken to comply with its NPDES municipal permits and evaluate the effectiveness of its stormwater management program. Previous reports are archived at WSDOT and can be made available upon request.
- 2008 Annual Progress Report (pdf 4.27 mb)
Puget Sound Highway Runoff Program
In 1987, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority issued the Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan. This plan called for a Highway Runoff Program, which was subsequently developed by Ecology and codified in Chapter 173-270 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). This regulation established the basis for the management of stormwater runoff from transportation infrastructure to protect water quality in the Puget Sound basin.
Guidance, Procedures, & Tools
Stormwater Research
Stormwater management is a complex task with a variety of regulatory drivers and constraints, involving numerous technical disciplines including hydraulics, hydrology, geology, and water quality. The relatively narrow linear nature of the highway network further constrains the use of conventional stormwater management approaches while also requiring safe access for maintenance of stormwater facilities. To help meet these challenges, WSDOT relies on stormwater research to help identify state-of-the-art, cost-effective solutions for designing, constructing, and maintaining stormwater management systems.
More on WSDOT stormwater research.
Erosion & Sediment Control Program
The WSDOT Erosion Control Program prevents erosion-related cost overruns, project delays, and protects the environment by providing training, technical assistance, and guidance materials to WSDOT staff and contractors.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans
The Water Quality Program can assist with the preparation and review of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) for Highway Construction, Ferries, Aviation, and Rail divisions.
Stormwater Facilities Inventory & Retrofits
Under WAC 173-270 (adopted in 1991), WSDOT is required to inventory, prioritize, and retrofit all stormwater outfalls. Work is currently under way to inventory over 20,000 outfalls around the state. Information will be gathered into a database and will include a thorough assessment of the conditions at each outfall. The database will then automatically generate a priority list of outfalls that require retrofit. Recommendations for retrofit best management practices (BMPs) are also included as part of the overall prioritization score for each outfall. Information from this inventory will simultaneously benefit several WSDOT operations including:
- Program management
- Design offices
- Maintenance
- Environmental offices (NPDES and NEPA)
Outfall information associated with Hydraulic Reports should be collected in accordance with the Hydraulic Staff Outfall Inventory Instructions. Enter the information into the Hydraulic Staff Outfall Inventory Spreadsheet and e-mail it to Cory Simon. Any questions about this process should be addressed to Cory at 360-570-2589.
NEPA/SEPA Programs Support
The Water Quality Program provides the following services for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA):
Prepare and review discipline studies in accordance with WSDOT Environmental Procedures Manual Section 430.
Drinking Well Protection Agreement
WSDOT and the Washington State Department of Health have entered into a Drinking Well Protection Agreement to clarify expectations, establish screening criteria, and facilitate communication for projects that intersect the sanitary control area of a public water supply.
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Any dumping or pumping of pollutants or polluted water into drainage ditches or storm drains is considered an illicit discharge.
Examples of illicit discharges include:
- Muddy water from construction sites
- Chemical spills
- Industrial waste water
- Sewage leaks
- Farm animal wastes
WSDOT is required to identify and eliminate illicit discharges to prevent pollution of Washington's waters. Anyone who notices an illicit discharge can help by reporting it. If you see pollutants being spilled, pumped or dumped into a highway or rest area stormwater system, please contact the Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6300 and WSDOT at (360) 570-2589.
Underground Injection Control
Infiltration is one of the preferred methods for disposing of excess stormwater. Subsurface infiltration is regulated by the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Rule, which is intended to protect underground sources of drinking water. The UIC Rule requires WSDOT to assess and register all underground injection facilities.
Project Offices in coordination with the Region Hydraulics Offices, shall download and complete the linked spreadsheet (xls 153kb). Send completed forms to gersibd@wsdot.wa.gov. Completed spreadsheet information will be used to register facilities.