Public Works


Phase II Storm Water

Improving water quality is an important issue in the United States of America. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) legislation in order to control storm water runoff. The legislation covers many areas, including construction, industrial, state and municipal operations. The Federal Phase II regulations went into effect on March 10, 2003. The regulation, among other things, required all small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas to submit a General Permit application.

The NPDES Phase II program in Connecticut is administered by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The “General Permit for the Discharge of Storm water from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” was issued by the DEP on January 9, 2004. All municipalities in Connecticut that contain urbanized areas and were not covered by the NPDES Phase I regulations are required to prepare and implement a Storm water Management Plan. An Urbanized Area is defined as having a population density of 1,000 or more people per square mile based on the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Monroe is one of 130 towns in Connecticut that contains urbanized areas and is required to develop and implement a Storm water Management Plan. The municipalities have five (5) years to implement the plan. The plans must address Six Minimum Control Measures and implement Best Management Practices for each measure. Best Management Practices (BMP) are defined by State Statute as those practices which reduce pollution and which have been determined by the Commissioner of the DEP to be acceptable based on, but not limited to, technical, economic, and institutional feasibility.

The Six Minimum Control Measures are as follows:

  1. Public Education and Outreach
  2. Public Participation
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • Map Storm Sewer Outfalls
  • Screen Outfalls for Non-Storm water Discharges
  • Ordinance Prohibiting Non-Storm water Discharges
  1. Construction Storm water Management
  2. Post-Construction Storm water Management
  3. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
  • Street Sweeping and Catch Basin Cleaning
  • Training Town Employees
  • Evaluate Storm Sewer Systems for Possible Upgrading and Repair

In addition, the Town will be conducting annual wet weather sampling of the storm water discharges.

For additional information regarding the MS4 program, visit the following website, or contact Arthur Baker at the Monroe Department of Public Works at [abaker@monroect.org].

http://www.asist.net/site/links/index.htm

Other Documents
Phase II NPDES