Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater – that portion of precipitation that, once having fallen to the ground, is in excess of the evaporative or infiltrative capacity of soils, or the retentive capacity of surface features, which flows or will flow off the land by surface runoff to waters of the State.

Due to the ongoing importance of preserving the quality of our surface waters from environmental runoff and stormwater discharge, New York State has prioritized regulations and permitting to ensure that stormwater discharged to a state body of water (Lake, streams, rivers). This effort is regularly monitored to verify the established plan minimizes impacts of surface pollutants.

Pollutants that can be found in stormwater include the following:

Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can promote the overgrowth of algae, deplete oxygen in the waterway, and be harmful to other aquatic life.
Bacteria from animal wastes and illicit connections to sewerage systems can make nearby lakes and bays unsafe for wading, swimming, and the propagation of edible shellfish.
Oil and grease from spills during vehicle maintenance activities causes sheen and odors.
Sediment from construction activities clouds waterways and interferes with the habitat of living things that depend upon those waters.
Careless application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers affect the health of living organisms and cause ecosystem imbalances.
Trash and debris damages aquatic life, introduces chemical pollution, and diminishes the beauty of our waterways.

How the Town of Ithaca is Protecting our Waters

One of the programs used to protect state water quality is the MS4 program. This program is intended to create an enforceable set of practices by a municipality to establish control measures and management of their stormwater discharges going into state waters. This permit process works by providing guidelines and making sure there is an actionable plan for the municipality to follow.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) – is a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains):

owned or operated by a State, city, town, village, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to State law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including special districts under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the CWA, that discharges to surface waters of the State;
designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
which is not a combined sewer; and
which is not part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR 122.2.

Small municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s) that are located within the boundaries of an urbanized area, as defined by the US Census Bureau, are regulated under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Phase II Stormwater Rule. The Phase II Stormwater Rule requires MS4 Operators to develop a stormwater management program (SWMP) which includes six minimum control measures (MCMs) that, when implemented together, are expected to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. The goal of the program is to improve water quality and recreational use of waterways. – NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website (more information here)

Overview of the Minimum Control Measures (MCM)

The MS4 also requires the development of a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP). This plan must include the following six minimum control measures.

1. Public Education and Outreach

The MS4 Operator must develop and implement an education and outreach program to increase public awareness of pollutant generating activities and behaviors. This MCM is designed to inform the public about the impacts of stormwater on water quality, the general sources of stormwater pollutants, and the steps the general public can take to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff.

2. Public Participation/Involvement

The MS4 Operator must provide opportunities to involve the public in the development, review, and implementation of the SWMP. This MCM is designed to give the public the opportunity to include their opinions in the implementation of this SPDES general permit.

3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

The MS4 Operator must develop, implement, and enforce a program which systematically detects, tracks down, and eliminates illicit discharges to the MS4. This MCM is designed to manage the MS4 so it is not conveying pollutants associated with flows other than those directly attributable to stormwater runoff.

4. Construction Site Runoff Control

The MS4 Operator must develop, implement, and enforce a program to ensure construction sites are effectively controlled. This MCM is designed to prevent pollutants from construction related activities, within the automatically and additionally designated areas, as well as promote the proper planning and installation of post-construction stormwater management practices.

5. Post-construction Runoff Control

The MS4 Operator must develop, implement, and enforce a program to ensure proper operation and maintenance of post construction SMPs for new or redeveloped sites. This MCM is designed to promote the long-term performance of post-construction SMPs in removing pollutants from stormwater runoff.

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

The MS4 Operator must develop and implement a pollution prevention and good housekeeping program for municipal facilities and municipal operations to minimize pollutant discharges. This MCM is designed to ensure the MS4 Operator’s own activities do not contribute pollutants to surface waters of the State.

Outreach and Involvement

Illicit Discharge

Part of maintaining the MS4 permit involves identifying and tracking illegal connections or discharges in the surrounding waterways. Having a way for the public to notify the Town of water quality concerns or suspected illicit activity is essential to maintaining the public waterways. Please click on the link below to report a suspected illicit discharge or notify the town of a stormwater concern. Make sure to select “Stormwater Discharge Reporting” under type of inquiry.

Public Comment

Because water pollution affects entire communities, it is important that regulations and management planning should be publicly available and open to comments. A key component of water quality management is having a way for the people in the SWMP to have a chance to review and comment on the proposed plan. Please click on the link below to leave a public comment regarding the Storm Water Management Plan, make sure to select “Stormwater Discharge Reporting” under type of inquiry.

Stormwater Reporting and Public Comment

What Types of Discharges are allowable?

§ 227-6 Authorized discharges.

A. The discharge prohibition in § 227-5 shall not apply to the following:

(1) Discharges authorized under an SPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under DEC’s authority, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and further provided that DEC has granted written approval for the discharge into the municipal storm sewer system or surface water.
(2) Discharges approved in writing by the SMO to protect life or property from imminent harm or damage, provided that such approval shall not be construed to constitute compliance with other applicable laws and requirements, and further provided that such discharges may be permitted for a specified time period and under such conditions as the SMO may deem appropriate to protect such life and property while reasonably maintaining the purpose and intent of this chapter.
(3) Dye testing in compliance with applicable state and local laws, provided that the discharger provides a verbal notification to the SMO prior to the time of the test.

B. The following nonstormwater discharges are permissible, but only if they do not result in a violation of New York State water quality standards, the DEC or Town has not determined them to be substantial contributors of pollution, and they are undertaken in compliance with any applicable or required best management practices:

(1) Water supply line flushing.
(2) Discharges from potable water source
(3) Runoff and infiltration from landscape irrigation.
(4) Runoff and infiltration from lawn watering.
(5) Existing legally diverted stream flows.
(6) Rising groundwater.
(7) Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration to storm drains.
(8) Uncontaminated pumped groundwater.
(9) Uncontaminated groundwater from foundation and footing drains.
(10) Uncontaminated groundwater from crawl space and basement sump pumps.
(11) Air-conditioning condensate.
(12) Irrigation water.
(13) Springs.
(14) Water from individual residential car washing.
(15) Flows from natural riparian habitats and wetlands.
(16) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges.
(17) Residential street wash water.
(18) Water from fire-fighting activities.
(19) Any other water source not containing pollutants.

What is an Illicit Discharge and Why is it Prohibited?

Any discharge to the municipal storm sewer system or surface waters prohibited by § 227-5 of this chapter.

227-5 Discharge prohibition.
1. A. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm sewer system or surface waters any material or substance that is not composed entirely of stormwater, unless it is an authorized discharge as set forth in § 227-6.
2. B. This prohibition applies to direct discharges (such as through pipes, hoses, or human-created channels) and indirect discharges (such as through sheet flow, groundwater infiltration, or natural swales) into the municipal storm sewer system or surface waters.
3. C. Any person who is notified that it is violating the prohibitions in this section shall immediately take appropriate action to abate the violation and comply with this section.

Environmental Hazards Associated with Illicit Discharges and Improper Disposal of Waste

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Laws – Stormwater Coalition of Tompkins County

Illicit discharges can contribute high levels of pollutants to waterbodies. Common pollutants found in illicit discharges include: raw sewage (bacteria, viruses), heavy metals, oil/grease, solvents, and nutrients. EPA studies have shown that pollutant levels in these discharges are high enough to significantly degrade water quality, close beaches, and negatively impact aquatic, wildlife, and human health.

Proper Handling and Disposal Practices

The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division accepts household hazardous waste from Tompkins County Residents. Material is accepted at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center’s D.E.P.O.T. Please read under Additional Resources for more information.

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources for information on stormwater management:

The Stormwater Coalition of Tompkins County – The Stormwater Coalition of Tompkins County is an inter-municipal organization formed to assist municipal separate storm systems (MS4s) in cooperation, communication, and compliance with state regulations for stormwater discharges.
NYS DEC – DEC uses an integrated approach to keep New York’s lakes, rivers, and streams clean. The programs outlined below work together to manage sources of water pollution, reduce the amount of specific pollutants, and improve and protect the water quality in targeted waterbodies and watersheds.
Water Quality Monitoring The Community Science Institute (CSI) facilitates a network of water quality monitors and they have the ability to processes water samples brought in by the public.
Pharmaceutical Collection: The Coalition for Safe Medicine Disposal holds multiple events throughout the year to collect unwanted medication from households in Tompkins County. The medication is sent for incineration. By incinerating the collected medications, they are removing the pollutant risk to water resources. The Coalition is made up of community volunteers and representative from: Community Coalition for Healthy Youth, Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, Lifelong, Tompkins County Administration, Tompkins County Health Department, and Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection: The Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management (TCRMM) offers a permanent location to accept HHW from Tompkins County residents and qualified businesses and organizations that are Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG). Material is accepted at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center’s D.E.P.O.T. – Don’t Empty Pollutants in Our Trash. Approximately 6 events are held throughout the year.
Discover Cayuga: The Discover Cayuga offers educational programs to local schools and the general public aboard their boat, the M.V. Haendel. Educational programs offered include:

Floating Classroom Trips for area schools – Students receive pre-cruise classroom presentations on watersheds and stormwater, plus 3 hours of programming on the lake.
Eco-Cruises –the Floating Classroom offers “Eco-cruises” to the general public on the weekends. The cruise features elements of a narrated tour and optional hands-on activities for all ages. The goal of the cruises is to help everyone develop an understanding of Cayuga Lake and the role it plays in our communities.
Trout in the Classroom – from late October through May of the following year, Discover Cayuga sets up cold-water trout aquariums in participating classrooms throughout Tompkins County. Over 6 months, the students raise the trout, from eggs to fry, in their classroom. They care for the trout, monitor aquarium water quality, and learn about streams. In the spring, the class releases the surviving trout fingerlings into adopted streams in their community.