Community Involvement
Stormwater Apps to Try!
Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts
Stormwater runoff is generated from many different land surfaces and is impacted by the behaviors and activities of individuals, households, and the public. These common individual behaviors have the potential to generate stormwater pollution including:
- littering,
- disposing of trash and recyclables,
- disposing of pet-waste,
- applying lawn-chemicals,
- washing cars,
- changing motor-oil, and
- disposing leftover paint and household chemicals.
Convincing others to change their behaviors and properly dispose of materials can control such pollution. It is important that the public be aware of the significance of their behavior and that their actions can either pollute or protect our waterways. Phase II MS4s are required to educate their community on the pollution potential of common activities, and increase awareness of the direct links between land activities, rainfall-runoff, storm drains, and their local water resources. The education programs must include clear guidance on steps and specific actions to be taken to reduce stormwater pollution-potential. The benefits of public education efforts cannot be understated, especially on topics such as "nonpoint source" or "stormwater" pollution.
Read more about public education and outreach on stormwater impacts.
Public Involvement / Participation
Encouraging community participation, forming partnerships, and combining efforts of other groups in the community will encourage everyone to work towards the same stormwater goals. Public involvement builds on community capital—the wealth of interested citizens and groups—to help spread the message to:
- prevent stormwater pollution,
- undertake group activities that highlight storm drain pollution, and
- contribute volunteer community actions to restore and protect local water resources.
Phase II MS4s are required to follow all state, tribal, and local public notice requirements when implementing their stormwater program. Public involvement also includes creating opportunities for direct action, educational, and volunteer programs such as tree planting days, volunteer monitoring programs, storm drain marking, or stream clean-up programs.
Read more about public involvement / participation.
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
In general, illicit discharges include any discharge into a storm drain system that is not entirely composed of stormwater. The exceptions include water from firefighting activities and discharges from facilities already under an NPDES permit. Illicit discharges are a problem because, unlike wastewater, which flows to a treatment plant, stormwater generally flows to waterways without any additional treatment. Illicit discharges often contain pathogens, nutrients, surfactants, and various toxic pollutants.
Phase II MS4s are required to develop a program to detect and eliminate these illicit discharges. This primarily includes developing:
- a storm sewer system map,
- an ordinance prohibiting illicit discharges,
- a plan to detect and address these illicit discharges, and
- an education program on the hazards associated with illicit discharges.
An effective illicit discharge program needs to be both reactive and proactive. The program is reactive in addressing spills and other illicit discharges to the storm drain system that are found. The program must also be proactive in preventing and eliminating illicit discharges through education, training, and enforcement.
Read more illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE).
