Stormwater Management

Stormwater is produced every time rain or snow is not absorbed directly into the soil. Stormwater can pick up oils, litter, sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and pathogens as it travels across roads, buildings, dumpsters, lawns, and parking lots. If this stormwater flows into lakes and streams it can be a major source of water pollution. It is estimated that 70% of the water pollution in the United States comes from stormwater and other indirect discharges that are collectively called "nonpoint" sources.

Stormwater terminology can be confusing; our friends at FOBM (Friends of Bay Minette) recommend taking a look at the Water Cycle Glossary of Terms for some definitions and further explanations.

In 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) was adopted to improve the quality of our Nation's waters. The Act sought to accomplish this by minimizing and eliminating what is commonly referred to as "point sources" of pollution, sources of pollution that originate from a pipe or other specific point of discharge. There were significant improvements in water quality, but water pollution remained a problem in water bodies.

The Clean Water Act was amended in 1987 to target non-point sources of pollution. Under Phase I of this effort, which began in 1990, municipalities having a population greater than 100,000 people were required to implement programs and projects that would reduce non-point pollution. In 2003 this requirement was extended to almost all other municipalities including the Town of North Castle under what is commonly referred to as "Phase II".

In New York, Phase II requires that all regulated municipalities obtain a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the discharge of stormwater runoff into their surface waters. As a condition of this permit, regulated municipalities must develop and implement a comprehensive stormwater management program that includes mandated programs and practices in the following six categories:

  • Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts
  • Public participation / involvement
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination
  • Construction site stormwater runoff control
  • Post-construction stormwater management in new
  • Development / redevelopment
  • Pollution prevention / good housekeeping for municipal operations