STORMWATER
Stormwater in New England
FINDING SOLUTIONS
t we're doing
in New Hampshire
U.S. EPA | STORMWATER OUTREACH AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
STORM WATER u a leading cause of poor water quality Rain or
melted snow runs down driveways, sidewalks and streets carrying oil, din
and other po//utants 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 con
lead to illness, and people who eat comom/nated fish con also become sick.
Untreated stormvrater can also contaminate drinking water sources.
INTRO:
All storrrwster cischnrgE permits h New Hampshire are issued by EPA and certified by the state. These discharge
permits, issued through the National Po'Mkxt Discharge BmiTstion System (NPDES) program, are requlrec fer
cortstruatan sites disturbing more than in acre, certain industrial sites and certain municipal sewer systems. Towns ind
cities with a permit must create a program to manage their stormwater.
TO MANAGE STORMWATER
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WE ARE:
Reducing chloride pollution — New targets have been
set by New Hampshire for how mudi chtorice car be
cischarged irto waters near the 1-93 highway corndo'-
in southern New Hampshi1^, These targets established
in EPA-approved 'total maximum daily toads" {TMDLs),
reflect how much chloride can be safely discharged into
these waters. These TMDLs represent the first time allo-
cations have been developed for chloride discharges in
New England. The 1-93 TMDLs apply to four watersheds
that are affected by salt running off the highway, as well
as off other areas, such as parking lots, storage facilities
and other roads. A salt reduction workgroup made up of
interested parties, induding federal, state and local agen-
cies, is working together to develop innovative ways to
address chloride contamination in these waisrsheds.
Studying itnrmwiar at UNH — The nationally recog-
ntzec University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center
studies stormwater treatment processes, demonstrates
technology and holds workshops to help stormwater
managers. For more information, refer to http://www.
u nh.edu/eT/c5tev/ indexJrtm.
Working together — Regional stormwatcr coalitions in
Nashua, Manchester and the Seacoast of New Hamp-
shire arc working together to help towns in their region
comply with stormwater discharge permits.
Studying the impacts — A Stormwater Commission and
a Land Use Commission 'ormed by the state are stLdying
the effects of stormwater and stormwater management
Directing policy — State land UK regulations, called
"Afteration o-'Terrah Rules," encourage development that
protects lakes, rivers, oceans ard grojndwater. Recent
changes to the state's shore and development statute
requires a permit for man/ construction activities occur-
ring near protected water bodies. The new program limits
the amount of paved area within the shoreland zone and
requires a 50-foot setback from the shore for building.
Creating rain gardens and natural filters — The towns of
Goffstown and Peterborough are using porous pavement
and rain prdens to help absorb rainwater. The Silver Lake
Land Trust in Harrisville is putting gravd and plants along
roadwa./s and the shoreline, and recoiSTUrting fts boat
ramp to address both erosion and sedimentation prob-
lems. Suibomton it restoring ratml stream channels and
crossings to more Taturaly control stormwater.*
Monicoring water quality — Working through New
Hampshire's Lake Assessment arid River Assessment
programs, volunteers help protect the stale's lakes and
riven by conducing monitoring actvties. These 'volun-
teer morttors" gather data on water quality to hdp biolo-
gists, commurrties and environ"Tenta! groups make better
decisions abOLt lakes, ponds, rivers and streams,
*7Ws project is supported by EPA grant funds;
KEY CONTACTSt
ERIC WILLIAMS
New Hampshire Department
of Environmental Services
(603) 271-2358
ericwil iams9des.nh.gov
LEAH O'NEILL
EPA New England
Watershed & Nonpoint
Source Unit
(617) 918-1633
aneil.leah@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region I/
EPA TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-8S8-EPA-7341
LEARN MORE ATl LEAHN
AT:
www.epa.gov/region I/
topics/water/storrrrwtter.html
&EFKI
United States
Environments! Protection
I Agency
• prlntMl an 100% rueydod pap«r, with a minimum of 50% pa*con«jmtr wart*, udng v*g«tobl*bcu*d Ink*
EPA-901.M 0-006
November 2010
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