National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) A Water Quality Program

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwatermonth.cfm

Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, passed by Congress in 1972, requires all point source discharge of storm water to be permitted according to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The 1987 Federal Water Quality Act established a two-phase program to regulate the storm water discharges.

The Phase I Storm Water Program includes industrial storm water discharge, those already covered by effluent limitation guidelines, construction activities disturbing 5 acres of land or greater, and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) serving a urban populations of more than 100,000.

The Phase II Storm Water Program designates small to medium storm sewer systmes (MS4s) in urbanized areas with a population of fewer than 100,000, and owners/operators of small construction sites. Owners/operators like the City of Daytona Beach must develop, implement and enforce a management program to reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters from the regulated small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

A major source of water pollution is stormwater runoff. Stormwater pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Stormwater can flow over and through streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites and pick up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants on the way to our surface waters. Stormwater runoff is our most common cause of water pollution. Because stormwater 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 stormwater program.

Did you know the one of the largest sources of stormwater pollution is the general public? The most common pollutants are trash from fast food wrappers, cigarette butts and toxins from used oil, anti freeze, sewage overflows, pesticides, pet waste and fertilizer.

In fact fertilizer is such a concern that The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) adopted the final statewide Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule in August of 2007. The rule significantly limits the phosphorous and nitrogen content in fertilizers for urban turf and lawns, application. The DACS expects a 20 to 25 percent reduction in nitrogen and a 15 percent reduction in phosphorus in every bag of fertilizer sold to the public. Commission of Agriculture Charles Bronson said, "By establishing responsible nitrogen and phosphorus use rates statewide, Florida’s citizens can continue to care for their lawns and landscapes without sacrificing water quality."

CITY OF DAYTONA BEACH NPDES NOTICE OF INTENT FOR STORMWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS

The City of Daytona Beach enforces the NPDES through a permit with the FDEP. In an effort to help maintain and/or improve water quality in the City. Tasks that are performed to comply with the NPDES permit may include:

1. Educating the City’s residents and businesses on the common causes of pollution and how to prevent then.
2. Working with other City Departments to ensure that City sites and projects are kept operating under the best management and housekeeping practices to reduce the City’s contribution to pollution.
3. Works with other City Departments to ensure construction sites are monitored and in compliance with their NPDES permit.
4. Train and educate City staff regarding the NPDES permit and Best Management Practices (BMPs).
5. Mapping of the City’s stormwater conveyance system.
6. Adoption of an Illicit Discharge Ordinance.
7. Works with other City Departments to ensure that both industrial and commercial sites are inspected during and after construction for possible pollution discharges
8. Education of the City’s residents and business owners on pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices

NPDES Program For Construction Activity

Brochure on the Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program for Construction Activity

Stormwater runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality by contributing sediment and other pollutants to water bodies.

The operator of a regulated construction site must obtain an NPDES stormwater permit and implement appropriate pollution prevention techniques to minimize erosion and sedimentation and properly manage stormwater. It is important to keep in mind that the permit required under DEP's NPDES stormwater program is separate from the St. Johns River Water Management District Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) required under Part IV, Chapter 373, F.S., (593KB), a stormwater discharge permit required under Chapter 62-25, F.A.C., or any other local government's stormwater discharge permit for construction activity.

Who's Covered: Identifies the criteria for a project to qualify as large or small construction activity and provides definitions of key terms.

Permit Options & Requirements: Describes the NPDES permit options available to large and small construction operators, the permit requirements, and the process for obtaining permit coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Provides answers to the construction questions most commonly posed to DEP regarding the NPDES stormwater programs.

If you see runoff from a construction site, please call Utilities Dispatch at 386-671-8815 or email wucommunications@codb.us.

NPDES Program for Industrial Activity

Brochure on the Florida NPDES Stormwater Permitting Program for Industrial Activity

To control the mobilization of industrial pollutants (resulting from exposed materials and activities) by stormwater runoff, Florida's NPDES stormwater program regulates "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity," which includes eleven categories of industrial activity. Operators of industrial facilities that meet the criteria for coverage under the program must obtain a generic or individual NPDES permit and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP).

Who's Covered: Identifies the criteria for inclusion in the industrial stormwater program and details the eleven categories of "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity." It also explains the the newly revised industrial no exposure exclusion.

Permit Options/Requirements: Describes the two permit options available to regulated industrial operators, the permit requirements, and the process for obtaining permit coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Provides answers to the industrial questions most commonly posed to DEP.