STOMMWATER
Stormwater in New England
FACING PROBLEMS
you can do as
a Local Official
U.S. EPA | STORMWATER OUTREACH AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
STORMWATER is a leading cause of poor water quality. Rain or
mckcd snow runs dawn driveways, sidewalks and streets carrying oil. dirt
and other pollutants into nearby waterways. Polluted runoff, which can
cause erosion and flooding, runs into waterways and degrades plants, fish,
shellfish and other wildlife. In water used for recreation, the runoff can
lead to illness, and people who cat contaminated fish can also become sick.
Untreated stormwater can also contaminate drinking water sources.
INTRO:
A* a local official, you are in s key position to help reduce the polluted storrnwster that your corrmurety discharges into
local waterways. Your commitment to following state and federal enviroTmcrttal laws and regulations, to developing
kxal taws and policies that protect the environment and to managing stoTTtwater properly can make a significant
difference in hew much pollution enters nearby lakes, rvers, streams, groundwatcr and oceans. Your role as a pubic
official gives you influence and visibility. You can be a leader for ootn inctvicual ard institutional change
TO HELP NANAGE STORMWATER:
Follow the law - As a local official, you rrust comply
with The local stormwater or rurtcpaJ separate storm-
water system (MS4) general permit, which 'eguls.tes the
stormwater discharge of hundreds of towns and cities in
New England This permit requires communities, among
other things, to hare a plan to manage stormwater and
to eliminate illegal discharges from stormwater systems.
Revise land UM laws and policies — Your community
should adopt policies and regulations that protect the
wetlands, floodplains and vegetated stream buffers that
allow water to infiltrate back into the ground You should
also promote, or even require, low impact development
(LID). This kind of development involves designing sites
to reduce stormwater runoff and the cost of managing
tiat runoff. These options include: directing rainwater
into ran gardens, reducing the amourrt of impervious
arw in your town, and storing water. Local regulations
may inadvertently dscourage these practices by requir-
ing cjrbing or large road widths.
ContWar raw funding •ource* — A stormwater utity
helps oay for stormwater management by collecting fees
from property owners in proportion to a property's
stormwater contribution.
Don't delay in fixing your infrastructure — The pipes
and systems that carry sanitary sewage in New England
be old and in poor condrton. After heavy rains,
stormwater can overwhelm the sanitary sewage infra-
structure and result in unuealed sewage flawing into
basements and stTxrts. The cost of repair ng or replac-
ing infrastructure is nigh, but treating groundwater that
flows into leaking pipes or responding to an emergency
break may be costlier.
Educate your community—Through media, email, regu-
lar mail, meetings, websites and word of mouth, you can
teach the community about the potential damage caused
by storm water runoff. Do residents know pet waste
on sidewalks can raise bacteria and nutrient levels in
streams and ponds, that saving water saves money and
helps reduce stormwater costs, or that planting a tree or
designing 'green streets' makes the town more attrac-
tive and can increase property values?
Set an example — Sweeping streets, dealing catch
basins and using porous pavement in parking areas a I
help manage stor-iwater. Rain gardens in public areas
are aesthetically appealing: encourage residents and busi-
nesses to consider rain gardens and rari barrels.
O If you ore o rounwpaSly, on industry or devetoper, you
may &e sufe/eet to regulation uoderc federal or «ote storm-
voter permrt. Make sure you ore aware of and comply
with off applicable regulations. (nnp://c/j»ukepo.gov/np
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