| Local governments in the metro Atlanta area are required to manage stormwater under the Federal Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). In 1972, the federal Clean Water Act strengthened water quality standards and established the NPDES as a way to control discharges of pollution into waters of the United States.
What is the MS4 NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permit?
The Clean Water Act of 1972 originally established the NPDES permit system to control wastewater discharges from various industries and wastewater treatment plants known as "point sources." The Water Quality Act of 1987 amended the NPDES permit system to address nonpoint source pollution. This type of pollution occurs when pollutants such as bacteria, sediment, oil and grease, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers and trash from roadways, parking lots, yards, farms, and other areas is exposed to rainfall and washes into our rivers and streams. The MS4 stormwater discharge permit establishes guidelines for municipalities to minimize pollutants in stormwater runoff to the "maximum extent practicable."
Local governments in the metro Atlanta area are required to manage stormwater under the Federal Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
When did the permit become effective?
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued the initial permit in 1994. It re-authorized the permit in 1999.
Who is regulated by this permit?
Municipalities and counties nationwide with a population of more than 100,000 must obtain a permit. However the Georgia Environmental Protection Division required compliance from each jurisdiction in a five-county metro Atlanta area (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett). Other jurisdictions outside this five-county area will soon be included in Phase II of the permitting process.
What does the permit require?
The permit requires municipalities to identify where the storm sewer system discharges to rivers and streams and to develop a comprehensive local stormwater management program (SWMP) to reduce pollutants entering the public storm sewer system.
What are the local governments doing to meet these requirements?
The counties and cities are implementing several of the programs required by the MS4 NPDES stormwater discharge permit including:
- Regular maintenance of public rights of way (street sweeping, litter collection and storm drain facility maintenance).
- A comprehensive soil erosion and sedimentation control program.
- Plan review procedures to assure unauthorized connections to the storm sewer system are not made.
- Proper spill response procedures.
- An ordinance prohibiting non-stormwater discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer system.
- Development of a comprehensive stormwater facility map.
- Periodic screening and monitoring of water samples from the storm sewer system and local streams, and testing for a number of parameters.
- Public education efforts to inform citizens about stormwater quality through utility bill inserts, educational events and fairs, storm drain stenciling and curriculums for schools.
- Identification and removal of unauthorized connections to the municipal separate storm sewer system.
- Funding of and participation in the Clean Water Campaign.
Did You Know?
The U.S. EPA now estimates that over 80 percent of the water quality problems in the U.S. are due to nonpoint source pollution. |
