Phase II Background

 

What is the NPDES?

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Listed as part of the Clean Water Act that requires a permit from the EPA, the state, or tribal government prior to discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States.

This permitting system regulates point-source pollution sources.  Point source pollutants are those that come from apparent, confined, and suspect means of transport (pipes, ditches, containers, etc).  These permits regulate substances such as chlorine, metals, minerals, and amount of water.

Why is it needed?

Pollution comes from many sources.  The EPA recognizes two main types:

  1. Point source – discharge directly from concentrated source (i.e. pipe)

  2. Non-point source – discharge from diffuse sources (i.e. land runoff)

Storm water has been recognized as ‘discrete’ point source of pollution due to its large impact on water quality, particularly in urban areas.  As land becomes developed the amount of pavement typically increases.

Anyone whose been in a parking lot during a large rain storm has seen the funneling of the rainwater into a storm drain.  As more parking lots, homes, and roads are built, the more storm drains are needed to transport the water from where it was once allowed to sit and soak into the ground, to a local stream.

This can create serious problems for local streams and their quality.  With the increase of development comes an increased amount of water entering a stream due to impervious cover.  The more impervious cover present in a watershed the faster water flows off the land to a local stream.

Phase I

The 1990’s brought the onset of the EPA’s storm water program under the Clean Water Act.  Entities had to encompass one of the three requirements to require a Phase 1 storm water permit:

  1. Have a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) generally serving more than 100,000 people

  2. Construction activity disturbing 5 acres of land or greater

  3. Industrial Activity (ten categories)

The City of Flint’s storm water is permitted through Phase 1 of the NPDES program.

Phase II

In 2001 the communities of Genesee County partnered together with the Genesee County Drain Commission to coordinate and apply for the required Phase 2 permits.

Phase 2 is the next step in the EPA’s effort to protect, preserve, and improve our water resources.

Who’s Involved in the Genesee County’s Phase II program?

The following municipalities have contracted with the GCDC to be the lead agency to provide Phase II permitting services:
Argentine Township, Atlas Township, Burton, Clayton Township, Clio, Davison, Davison Township, Fenton, Fenton Township, Flint Township, Flushing, Flushing Township, Forest Township, Gaines, Gaines Township, Genesee Township, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc Township, Lennon, Linden, Montrose, Montrose Township, Mt. Morris, Mount Morris Township, Mundy Township, Richfield Township, Swartz Creek, Thetford Township, Otisville, Vienna Township, and the Genesee County Drain Commissioner and Road Commission.

Education
Phase II not only includes permitting but also education.  Education of the public is required under EPA’s Phase II program.  There are seven elements that the public education plan must follow:

  1. Education of the public about their responsibility and stewardship in their watershed.

Citizens are personally responsible for water quality in their communities.  Taking care of the local waterways is everyone’s business and obligation.

  1. Education of the public concerning the ultimate discharge point and potential impacts from the separate storm water drainage system serving their place of residence.

Storm drains go directly to streams, lakes, and rivers.  They DO NOT go to a waste water treatment plant; anything that is dumped or blown into the street goes DIRECTLY to the storm drain which goes DIRECTLY to the local water bodies.

  1. Education of the public on the availability, location and requirements of facilities for disposal or drop-off of household hazardous wastes, travel trailer sanitary wastes, chemicals, grass clippings, leaf litter, animal wastes, and motor vehicle fluids.

Location of drop-off sites and proper disposal for car fluids, animal waste, lawn clippings, chemicals etc. is available on the homeowner tips page.

  1. Education of the public regarding acceptable application and disposal of pesticides and fertilizers.

Recommended application of pesticides/herbicides and fertilizers is available homeowners and businesses, tip page.

  1. Education of the public concerning preferred cleaning materials and procedures for residential car washing
  1. Encouragement of public reporting of the presence of illicit discharges or improper disposal of materials into a storm water drainage system
  1. Education of the public concerning management of riparian land to protect water quality

Proper management of coastal property and land adjacent to a water body is vital for protecting water quality.

For information about Phase II in Genesee County
 Link to Genesee County Drain Commission’s Phase II website
 

For general information about the Phase II program
EPA Brochure on Phase II Storm Water (PDF format)
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact1-0.pdf
Link to EPA’s website on Storm Water
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

 

Have a water problem? Flooding, Illegal Dumping, Water Testing Etc….. If you need answers about who to call regarding “water” click here

Quick Links