What does MS4 stand for?
MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. A separate storm sewer system is a collection of drainage systems that collects and transports stormwater runoff through inlets and pipes and discharges it treatment into local waterways. These can also be referred to more generally as a storm water system or storm drain system. These are separate from sewer systems, which transport wastewater to wastewater treatment plants.
What is an MS4 Permit?
Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requires that any discharge into waters of the United States have coverage under an NPDES permit. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has designated certain municipalities as MS4 permittees based on their population density. Larger cities and counties are designated as Phase I MS4s and small towns and cities like Smithsburg, Boonsboro, Hagerstown, and Williamsport are designated as Phase II MS4s. The purpose of MS4 permits is to promote the improvement of local water quality by regulating stormwater discharges and reducing stormwater pollution. The permits are a key element of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan.
What is Required as an MS4 Permit holder?
As an MS4 permit holder, the Town is required to implement several programs to reduce stormwater pollution. Since all runoff in Maryland eventually reaches the Chesapeake Bay, one of the main requirements of the permit is that permittees must treat 20% of the total impervious area within their jurisdiction. The town uses stormwater best management practices (BMPs) such as rain gardens, bioretention ponds, and grass swales to provide stormwater management to untreated impervious areas. The MS4 permit refers to this as “Impervious Area Restoration”. Check out the restoration projects page to look at what the Town has done to reach this goal!
The permit also requires permittees to develop programs for 6 minimum control measures (MCM) designed to reduce stormwater pollution in different ways. The six MCMs are:
MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. A separate storm sewer system is a collection of drainage systems that collects and transports stormwater runoff through inlets and pipes and discharges it treatment into local waterways. These can also be referred to more generally as a storm water system or storm drain system. These are separate from sewer systems, which transport wastewater to wastewater treatment plants.
What is an MS4 Permit?
Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requires that any discharge into waters of the United States have coverage under an NPDES permit. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has designated certain municipalities as MS4 permittees based on their population density. Larger cities and counties are designated as Phase I MS4s and small towns and cities like Smithsburg, Boonsboro, Hagerstown, and Williamsport are designated as Phase II MS4s. The purpose of MS4 permits is to promote the improvement of local water quality by regulating stormwater discharges and reducing stormwater pollution. The permits are a key element of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan.
What is Required as an MS4 Permit holder?
As an MS4 permit holder, the Town is required to implement several programs to reduce stormwater pollution. Since all runoff in Maryland eventually reaches the Chesapeake Bay, one of the main requirements of the permit is that permittees must treat 20% of the total impervious area within their jurisdiction. The town uses stormwater best management practices (BMPs) such as rain gardens, bioretention ponds, and grass swales to provide stormwater management to untreated impervious areas. The MS4 permit refers to this as “Impervious Area Restoration”. Check out the restoration projects page to look at what the Town has done to reach this goal!
The permit also requires permittees to develop programs for 6 minimum control measures (MCM) designed to reduce stormwater pollution in different ways. The six MCMs are:
1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Participation and Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Stormwater Management
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
The MS4 permit also requires the Town to create an annual report, posted below, detailing what they do to comply with the permit.
The MS4 permit also requires the Town to create an annual report, posted below, detailing what they do to comply with the permit.
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