Stormwater

List of Stormwater-related events and seminars.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources (pipes, ditches, drains, etc.) that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Massachusetts is not currently delegated by EPA to issue NPDES permits, but is initiating the process to develop a stormwater management program in accordance with NPDES and the Clean Water Act.

The Federal Clean Water Act is the legal framework for the NPDES Permit Program, providing the statutory basis for the program and the basic structure for regulating the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. The Act requires anyone who wants to discharge pollutants to first obtain an NPDES permit. This US EPA page summarizes the Clean Water Act and links to further information about it, including the full text of the Act.

Both MassDEP and US EPA regulate stormwater in Massachusetts. In addition, municipalities may have local drainage, sewer, wetland, or other ordinances that regulate stormwater.

A stormwater general permit is both a permit and a handbook for compliance. Each general permit has a preamble (or fact sheet) that summarizes the factual, legal, methodological, and policy questions considered in drafting the permit. The information in the fact sheet often helps the reader better understand the intent of the provisions in the permit.

Definitions of key terms in NPDES permitting, including "urbanized area," "municipal separate storm sewer," "storm water," and more, taken from the Code of Federal Regulations and originally published in the Federal Register in November 1990.

What is a municipal separate storm sewer system, how are they regulated, what a community needs to do, and more.

Based on Urbanized Areas calculated from 2000 Census and 1990 Census. The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems of these towns are automatically designated as regulated by NPDES Phase II and the towns must comply within the Urbanized Area.

Green roofs are just one component that may be used to achieve Leadership in Energy and  Environmental Design (LEED) certification for new and existing buildings, as they reduce stormwater runoff and promote energy savings.

Revised and updated in February 2008 in accordance with revisions to the Wetlands regulations, 310 CMR 10.00, and the Water Quality Regulations, 314 CMR 9.00, relating to stormwater.

MassDEP guidelines for government agencies and private businesses to use in selecting, preparing and maintaining snow disposal sites.

MassDEP is working to strike a balance between water withdrawals and water recharge increases in each of the state's watersheds through a policy of Keeping Water Local.