NPDES / Stormwater

Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

The goal of the federally mandated National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program is to preserve, protect and improve the Nation's water resources from polluted stormwater runoff. NPDES Phase II is intended to reduce adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic habitat by instituting the use of controls on the unregulated sources of stormwater discharges that have the greatest likelihood of causing continued environmental degradation. NPDES Phase II requires operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) defined in six minimum control measures to control polluted stormwater runoff.

Belvidere falls under the MS4 classification; and therefore, submits a Notice of Intent (NOI) General Permit number ILR400510 to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The NOI contains general information about Belvidere as well as the BMPs to be implemented for each of the six minimum control measures that are given below:

Public Education and Outreach
Public Involvement and Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
Municipal Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

What Causes Stormwater Pollution

As stormwater flows over driveways, lawns and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants. Stormwater can flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a stream, river, pond, or wetland. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is ultimately discharged untreated into the water-bodies that we use for recreation. Polluted runoff is the nation's greatest threat to clean water.

By practicing healthy household and business habits, you can keep common pollutants like pesticides, pet waste, grass clippings and automotive fluids off the ground and out of stormwater. Do not dump or allow pollutants to flow into a storm drain. This includes: oils, carwash runoff, paint, window washing fluid and anything else but rain water! Remember, with very few exceptions only rain goes down the drain. Adopting these habits will help protect our water resources.