Stormwater

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Issue Summary

When rain water runs off the sides of buildings, and over parking lots and other impervious urban areas, it picks up and transports pollutants. In times of heavy rainfall, sanitary sewer systems may not have the capacity to hold all the water entering the system, which results in sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

These events often result in the discharge of sewage and pollutants to nearby surface waters. However, many local governments may lack the financial and technical resources necessary to address these issues. The resulting noncompliance with regulations designed to address wet weather pollution can further increase the burden on these local governments.

Under the NPDES stormwater program, operators of large, medium and regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) require authorization to discharge pollutants. Medium and large MS4 operators are required to submit comprehensive permit applications and are issued individual permits. Regulated small MS4 operators have the option of choosing to be covered by an individual permit, a general permit, or a modification of an existing Phase I MS4's individual permit.

Local governments involved in construction projects will also need to comply with stormwater construction rules. Stormwater runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality by contributing sediment and other pollutants to creeks, streams, lakes, etc. Under the Federal Clean Water Act, The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating sources of pollution that discharge into waters of the United States. Federal regulations relating to the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program require operators of certain sized construction projects to obtain authorization to discharge stormwater under an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction stormwater permit. Under Phase II Stormwater regulations, which became effective March 2003, required construction activities that disturbed one or more acres of land to obtain NPDES permit coverage.

Although stormwater regulations are federal rules, they are implemented by state environmental agencies (except for Massachusetts, New Mexico, Alaska, Idaho and New Hampshire where EPA retains authority).

The following material provides information on various technical and financial resources available to local governments, as well as information on current wet weather regulatory and legislative initiatives, workshops, web sites, and publications which can assist local governments in reducing wet weather pollution.

Resources

U.S. EPA States Organizations/Non-Government Programs Databases and Tools Financial Assistance

U.S. EPA

Stormwater Discharges From Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). Under the NPDES stormwater program, operators of large, medium and regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) require authorization to discharge pollutants under an NPDES permit.

Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. The NPDES Stormwater program requires operators of construction sites one acre or larger (including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development) to obtain authorization to discharge stormwater under an NPDES construction stormwater permit.

States

Construction Stormwater Resource Locator. This resource is designed to help with questions regarding stormwater permits and other requirements.

Organizations/Non-Government Programs

National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA). An organization of public agencies whose function is the protection of lives, property and economic activity from the adverse impacts of storm and flood waters.

Urban Stormwater Management in the United States. On October 15, 2008, the National Research Council Water Sciences and Technology Board released the report Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (Committee on Reducing Stormwater Discharge Contributions to Water Pollution, National Research Council, National Academies Press). The report is the product of a 2-year process undertaken by the 15-member committee. The 513 page report provides a description of the history of stormwater management in the United States; an overview of stormwater regulations and the federal regulatory program; and information on a number of relevant scientific and technological issues such as hydrology, geomorphology, biology, monitoring and modeling. The report also provides a number of significant findings and recommendations on how stormwater management in the United States should be improved to achieve better environmental outcomes. A Report in Brief fact sheet is also available.

Guidance for Nine Minimum CSO Controls. This publication provides information on nine minimum technology-based controls that communities are expected to use to address CSO problems, without extensive engineering studies or significant construction costs, before long-term measures are taken.

Guidance for Long-Term CSO Control Plan. This publication describes how local governments can develop comprehensive long-term CSO control plans that recognize the site-specific nature of CSOs and their impacts on receiving water bodies.

Combined Sewer Overflows Frequently Asked Questions. This document provides answers to frequently asked questions on Combined Sewer Overflows.

National Menu of Best Management Practices for NPDES Storm Water Phase II. This Environmental Protection Agency publication contains 112 fact sheets that describe BMPs that can be used to fulfill the 6 minimum measures described in the Storm Water Phase II Rule.

Storm Water Phase II Compliance Assistance Guide. This Environmental Protection Agency Publication seeks to aid regulated entities in complying with the Storm Water Phase II final rule.

Storm Water Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution. This Natural Resources Defense Council report documents some of the most effective strategies being employed by local governments around the country to control urban runoff pollution.

Economic Benefits Of Runoff Controls. This Environmental Protection Agency report discusses two types of structural controls that have been documented as providing economic benefits: urban runoff ponds and constructed wetlands.

Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Fact Sheet. This Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet explains what SSOs are, why they occur, what health risks they pose, and how they can be prevented.

Databases and Tools

BMP Locator. Use this unique on-line tool to locate instructions and specifications for construction stormwater best management practices (BMPs) published by EPA and state agencies.

Urban BMP Performance Tool - This tool has been developed to provide stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies assessing the performance of over 275 BMPs. It provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavement, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments.

NPDES Compliance Monitoring Strategy - This new strategy, which takes effect in 2009, outlines inspection and compliance goals for the entire NPDES program, including major and minor NPDES facilities, pretreatment programs, biosolids, CSOs, SSOs, stormwater, and CAFOs. It places increased emphasis on wet weather issues, particularly stormwater sources, and sets ambitious targets for audits and inspections of Phase I and II MS4s, construction sites, and industrial facilities.

National Storm Water Best Management Practices Database. This searchable database provides access to BMP performance data in a standardized format for over 113 BMP studies conducted over the past fifteen years.

Financial Assistance

Guidance for Combined Sewer Overflow Funding Options. This document describes the options that may be available to fund the capital, debt service, and operational costs of CSO controls.

An Internet Guide to Financing Stormwater Management. Developed by the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in cooperation with the Watershed Management Institute, Inc., this Web site seeks to help communities find ways to pay for stormwater management projects.