• Overview of the Problem
• Understanding the Sewer Collection System
  • History
  • How the Sewer System Works
  • Inflow, Infiltration and Overflows
• Stormwater
  • Stormwater Permits
  • MS4 Permittees
• Progress on the Issue
• A Regional Approach
• FAQs
• Abbreviations & Glossary
• Regulatory Update
  • Federal
  • State
  • Local

STORMWATER

Stormwater Permits

Polluted stormwater runoff is often transported by municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. EPA's Storm Water Phase II Rule establishes an MS4 stormwater management program intended to improve the nation's waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants that stormwater carries into storm sewer systems during rainfall.

Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers and plastic bottles. These pollutants can contaminate drinking water supplies and interfere with the habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms.

The federal Clean Water Act requires states to develop stormwater management permit programs to address these types of non-point source pollution. Pennsylvania's Department Of Environmental Protection, Bureau Of Watershed Management is issuing the General Permit For Stormwater Discharges From Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). These municipalities in "urbanized areas" are required to obtain permits and implement stormwater management programs. Permit applications, which required a general plan for development of a stormwater program, were due to be filed with DEP by March 10, 2003.

The full municipal program must reduce the discharge of pollutants from MS4s to the maximum extent practical, with the goal of protecting water quality and satisfying the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law. The program must contain a schedule, best management practices (BMPs) and measurable goals for the Six Minimum Control Measures, and be approved by DEP. The more than 1,000 municipalities in Pennsylvania affected by this new regulation must implement a stormwater management program that contains each one of these Six Minimum Control Measures:

1. Public education and outreach
2. Public participation and involvement
3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination
4. Construction site runoff control
5. Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
6. Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance

Information on this permit is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Detailed information on the Storm Water Phase II Rule is available on the EPA web site, including a map of the Allegheny County "urbanized areas" required to comply with this regulation.

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