Overview
Storm water 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, storm water 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.
Storm water runoff is our most common cause of water pollution. Because storm water 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 storm water program. The primary method to control storm water discharges is through the use of Best Management Practices, or BMPs.
Phase II NPDES Requirements
In response to the growing need for storm water quality protection, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a phased storm water control program; Phase I targeting large Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) operators, and Phase II targeting approximately 5,000 small to medium-sized MS4 operators and as many as 200,000 construction sites (1 to 5 acres). Several communities within the Macatawa Watershed are designated as a small to medium-sized MS4 and have the new Storm Water 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 storm water pollution control goals as flexibly and cost-effectively as possible. In Michigan, the state permitting authority is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
General Permit
In March 2003, regulated MS4 operators in the Lake Macatawa watershed were required to obtain authorization to discharge storm water under the Stormwater Watershed Based General Permit MIG619000, Storm Water Discharges from MS4s Subject to Watershed Plan Requirements. This permit, valid for 5 years, expired April 1, 2008. The permittees in the Macatawa Watershed have applied for coverage under the new permit, MIG610000.
Communities with Phase II Storm water Permit Coverage:
- Allegan County (Road Commission and Drain Office)
- Ottawa County (Road Commission and Drain Office)
- City of Holland
- City of Zeeland
In response to these new regulations, these communities began developing a plan for compliance in 2000 by creating a Storm water 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 storm water 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 – Storm water Pollution Prevention Initiative
- PPP – Public Participation Process
For more detailed information about municipal storm water permitting go to the MDEQ, Storm water Website
Find out what you can do!
- The best thing you can to reduce your storm water impact is to be an informed and responsible homeowner. Consult our “Homeowner’s Handbook” to learn about all the ways individual howeowners can make a difference from washing your car to mowing your lawn to caring for your septic system. Copies are also available at our office, just call 616-395-2688 or contact info@the-macc.org for more information.
- Storm Drain Stenciling (see picture above) -Storm drains are part of the storm sewer system which carries water from rainfall and snowmelt directly from your neighborhood to our local rivers, lakes , streams and wetlands. This water becomes polluted when it picks up things like grass clippings, leaves, pesticides, motor oil, trash and pet waste and flushes them into storm drains. Stormwater is NOT treated by wastewater treatment facilities and therefore it is a direct route for pollutants to enter Lake Macatawa! The MACC supplies community volunteers with all the supplies to paint stenciled messages near the storm drains in your neighborhood to remind you and your neighbors to keep pollutants off the streets, driveways and sidewalks and out of storm drains. This is a perfect activity for community service projects, homeowners associations, scout troops or church groups-To check out storm drain stenciling kits from our office, just call 616-395-2688 or contact info@the-macc.org for more information.
- Be aware “After the Storm “- Whether you are a private resident, a farmer, or a local business owner, the Environmental Protection Agency has put together a storm water brochure that’s contains lots of great information and pictures describing how everyone can reduce storm water. Click here for the Spanish version of “After the Storm” brochure.
- Clean Marina Program- Are you a boater? If so, you can help protect our local water quality by using one of several local marinas on Lake Macatawa that participate in the Clean Marina Program. See our Clean Marina Article in the June 2010 Newsletter or visit the Clean Marina website.