NPDES Phase II Storm Water Regulations: WHAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO KNOW

Overview Why care about storm water? What are the NPDES Phase II regulations? How does Phase II affect communities? How much is it going to cost?

Why care about storm water? Rain & snow become “storm water” when they hit the ground Storm water runoff affects the health of our waterways

Why care about storm water? Natural System: Slow absorption Ground water recharge Natural filtration Low runoff Developed System: Decreased absorption Decreased recharge Pollutant runoff High runoff Impacts: Erosion & sedimentation Flooding Decreased aesthetics & recreation opportunities

Why care about storm water? Pollutants fall on impervious surface Oil in parking lot Polluted storm water enters storm drain Storm water enters waterway Typical roadside catch basin Storm drain outfall Impaired waterway Failed silt fence Sedimentation and flooding during rain event

Why care about storm water? Reducing vegetation / increasing impervious surface increases storm water volume Higher flows when it rains; lower flows during dry weather Storm water QUANTITY and QUALITY must be managed properly

Why care about storm water? Benefits of storm water management: Decreased flooding Land preservation through erosion control Improved wetland and riparian habitat Lower capital investment in infrastructure Reduced operations & maintenance costs

What are the NPDES Phase II Stormwater Regulations? National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, established in 1987 under the Clean Water Act Phase I (1990) covers industrial sites, construction sites over 5 acres, and municipalities over 100,000 Phase II (2003) covers industrial sites, construction sites over 1 acre, and ALL public entities (municipalities and institutions) operating separate storm sewer systems AND contained within the U.S. Census Urbanized Area

Phase II affects… Cities, villages and townships in the urbanized area Counties Public institutions (schools, hospitals, prisons, etc.) Construction sites over 1 acre

What are the NPDES Phase II Stormwater Regulations? NPDES Phase II Goal: To reduce the discharge of pollutants to the “maximum extent practicable” to protect water quality

What are the NPDES Phase II Stormwater Regulations? Permit Requirements: Jurisdictional Public Education Illicit Discharge Elimination Public Participation Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping Construction Storm Water Runoff Control Post Construction Storm Water Management Watershed Public Education Illicit Discharge Elimination Public Participation Watershed Plan Storm Water Pollution Prevention Initiative

How does Phase II affect communities? Public Education Plan (PEP): Educate the public about reducing storm water pollution Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan (IDEP): Map storm sewer systems, identify and eliminate pollution sources

How does Phase II affect communities? Watershed Plan: Compile water quality data across the watershed, determine goals and actions to achieve those goals Public Participation Plan: Involve the public in development of watershed plan Storm Water Pollution Prevention Initiative: Identifies water quality initiatives to be undertaken by each community; based on watershed plan

How does Phase II affect communities? Both permits require implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs): Structural BMPs: detention ponds swales infiltration basins sand filters filter strips swirl concentrators Non-Structural BMPs: ordinances & zoning education & outreach maintenance activities (drain cleaning, street sweeping)

How does Phase II affect communities? Effective storm water management requires actions by ALL municipal departments Actions must be coordinated and communicated between departments and other agencies (e.g. county)

How does Phase II affect communities? Many departments have a role: Public Works / Public Services Planning & Zoning Building Fleet & Building Maintenance Parks & Recreation Finance

How does Phase II affect communities? Public Works / Public Services: Development of watershed management plan Structural and non-structural BMPs (e.g. engineering standards & ordinances) Erosion control Public education & outreach (e.g. pollution hotline, water bill inserts)

How does Phase II affect communities? Planning & Zoning: Development of watershed management plan Non-structural BMPs (e.g. ordinances and zoning) Public education & outreach

How does Phase II affect communities? Building: Soil erosion & sedimentation controls BMP implementation

How does Phase II affect communities? Fleet & Building Maintenance: “Good housekeeping” (maintenance activities) Landscaping / grounds maintenance

How does Phase II affect communities? Parks & Recreation: Natural features protection Landscaping / grounds maintenance Public education & outreach

How does Phase II affect communities? Finance: Budgeting for Phase II

How much is it going to cost? Costs vary by community based on existing programs (e.g. ordinances, newsletter, website) Costs for some elements (e.g. public education) can be shared under watershed-based approach Estimates range from $1.50 to $8 per capita during first permit cycle

Next steps… Your permit application was due March 10, 2003 Identify primary point of contact and supporting contacts in key departments Identify partners – watershed communities, nested jurisdictions, and other key stakeholders Inventory existing mechanisms to meet requirements Begin development of draft IDEP & PEP Begin watershed planning

Summary Effective storm water management will protect and improve the quality of our waterways over the long term Effective implementation of Phase II requires cooperative efforts of a variety of departments within each municipality Cooperative efforts within and between regulated entities are cost-effective

For more information… Visit the web-site developed by SEMCOG and the Clinton River Watershed Council. The Southeast Michigan Phase II Storm Water Information Clearinghouse.

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