OverviewStormwater pollution from point sources and nonpoint sources is a challenging water quality problem. Unlike pollution from industry or sewage treatment facilities, which is caused by a discrete number of sources, stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Rainwater and snowmelt run off streets, lawns, farms, construction and industrial sites and pick up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants on the way to our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
Stormwater runoff is our most common cause of water pollution. Because stormwater pollution is caused by so many different activities, traditional regulatory controls will only go so far. Education and outreach are key components to any successful stormwater program. The primary method to control stormwater discharges is through the use of Best Management Practices, or BMPs.
Phase II NPDES Requirements In response to the growing need for stormwater quality protection, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a phased stormwater control program; Phase I targeting large Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) operators, and Phase II targeting approximately 5000 small to medium-sized MS4 operators and as many as 200,000 construction sites (1 to 5 acres). All communities within the Macatawa Watershed are designated as a small to medium-sized MS4 and have the new Stormwater Phase II NPDES requirements to comply with Stormwater Phase II EPA Final Rule. These size designations were based on the 2000 Census Urbanized Area Map.
The EPA controls storm water and sewer overflow discharges through its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). NPDES provides guidance to municipalities and state and federal permitting authorities on how to meet stormwater pollution control goals as flexibly and cost-effectively as possible. In Michigan, the state permitting authority is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
General PermitIn March 2003, regulated MS4 operators in the Lake Macatawa watershed were required to obtain authorization to discharge stormwater under the NPDES Stormwater Watershed Based General Permit MIG619000, Storm Water Discharges from MS4s Subject to Watershed Plan Requirements.
Communities Required to Obtain Phase II Stormwater Permit Coverage:
- Allegan County (Road Commission and Drain Office)
- Ottawa County (Road Commission and Drain Office)
- City of Holland
- City of Zeeland
- Fillmore Township
- Holland Township
- Laketown Township
- Olive Township
- Park Township
- Zeeland Township
In response to these new regulations, these communities began developing a plan for compliance in 2000 by creating a Stormwater Committee that was comprised of representatives of all communities in the watershed. Together, this committee worked on developing the application and associated plans required for submittal to the MDEQ in March 2003. In November of 2003, the above communities became Permittees after their applications were approved and they received their Certificates of Coverage for discharging stormwater under NPDES General Permit MIG619000.
The Macatawa Watershed Project has been a member of this committee representing the goals of the watershed for water quality issues, in addition to assisting with public education and participation.
Some general requirements of the General Permit include:
IDEP - Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan
PEP - Public Education Plan
WMP - Watershed Management Plan
SWPPI - Stormwater Pollution Prevention Initiative
PPP - Public Participation Process
For more detailed information about stormwater permitting go to the MDEQ, Stormwater Website
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