Stormwater Compliance

Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater can be defined as surface water run-off that is generated by rain or snowmelt within a watershed area.   In urban areas, rain that falls on the roof of your house, or collects on paved areas like driveways, roads and sidewalks is carried away through a system of drainage inlets and pipes called a storm sewer system.  The storm sewer system is separate from the sanitary sewer system. Unlike the sanitary sewer system, the collected stormwater is not treated. In some cases, it may be filtered through a stormwater management pond; in other cases, it flows directly from the neighboring streets into streams, wetlands, rivers, embayment areas, and lakes.

Why does the stormwater run-off need to be controlled?

If you live or often spend time near a waterway, you are probably familiar with what happens after a rain event. Polluted run-off emptying into clean water is often discolored from sediment and/or plagued with litter. You may be advised not to swim or fish for a couple of days following a rain event because of the poor water quality. Common pollutants associated with urban stormwater run-off include pesticides, fertilizers, oils, salt, litter, and sediment. These contaminants are, in many instances, transported directly from the storm sewer system into our waterbodies.  These pollutants can destroy wildlife, cause the destruction of spawning habitats, reduce the aesthetic value of a stream corridor, wetland or pond, and limit recreational uses of our waterways.

How does the Town of Chili manage stormwater?

The Town of Chili has been identified as an operator of a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under the EPA’s Phase II Storm Regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted Phase II Storm Water regulations in March of 2003. These regulations require municipalities who own and operate separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to comply with six minimum measures to improve water quality.

1. Public Education & Outreach
2. Public Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Storm Water Management
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping procedures for Municipal Operations

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was charged by the EPA to issue permits to municipalities across the state that require compliance with the Federal regulations. The regulations require each MS4 to submit an annual report to the NYS DEC each year. The annual report captures compliance activities for the year and is kept on file in the office of the Town Clerk and also available online at the link below for public viewing.

The Town of Chili has been working in cooperation with the State of New York, County of Monroe and all nineteen towns and ten villages to develop procedures, policies and practices to improve water quality. Developers, contractors, engineers and municipalities are all required to follow the regulations during and after development.

Below are links to other resources about storm water as well as the Town of Chili’s Code Chapter 433 on Stormwater Management:

• Town Code Chapter 433
• Monroe County Pure Waters
• Monroe County Storm Water Coalition & Annual Report
• H2O Hero
• NYS DEC – Stormwater
• EPA – Stormwater Rules and Notices

The Phase II Program requires each MS4 to prepare an Annual Report, or contribute to a Joint Annual Report, on the municipality’s efforts to protect and improve the water quality of our streams and waterbodies. The Town of Chili has worked jointly with the Monroe County Storm Water Coalition to prepare a Joint Annual Report in conformance with the Phase II Regulations. A copy of the joint annual report can be reviewed at the link below. Please forward any comments to Adam Cummings, P.E. at acummings@townofchili.org or David P. Lindsay, P.E. at dlindsay@townofchili.org.

http://www.monroecounty.gov/des-stormwater-coalition

Record of Storm Water Management Officer:

The Town of Chili appoints on an annual basis at its organizational meeting in January of each year the Storm Water Management Officer (SWMO), also called the Stormwater Program Coordinator. The current SWMO is as follows:

Name: Adam Cummings, P.E., Deputy Commissioner of Public Works

Department of Public Works

200 Beaver Road
Churchville, NY 14428

Phone:(585) 889-6156

E-Mail:  acummings@townofchili.org

What can you do to help reduce stormwater pollution?

• Remember: “Only rain down the drain”.  The storm sewer system is for rainwater and snow melt only.  Even leaves or grass clippings can diminish the capacity of a storm sewer system
• Never dump or pour any material (either solid or liquid) into the storm sewer system.
• Reduce the amount of and use environmentally friendly pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn.
• Minimize the usage of de-icing materials on driveways and walks.
• Properly dispose of pet wastes.
• Compost vegetative material (grass clippings and other yard debris).
• Drain your swimming pool only when a test kit detects that no chlorine is present.
• Wash your vehicle on your lawn instead of on your driveway.
• Conduct regular maintenance on your septic system.

With help from the public, stormwater pollution can be controlled.  The most effective way to reduce this pollution is to stop it from entering the storm sewer system in the first place.

Illicit Discharges

Federal regulations define an illicit discharge as “…any discharge to a municipal sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater…” with some exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because municipalities are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes.

To report an illicit discharge or impacts due to construction related activity:

1. Observe from a safe distance. DO NOT touch or inhale the substance.
2. Notify
   • Weekdays between 7am – 4pm the Public Works Department at (585) 889-6156, or by email at acummings@townofchili.org. During off-hours, leave a message or send an email.
   • In case of emergency call 911
3. Provide the following information
   • your name and contact information
   • discovery location and date/time
   • description of the illicit material, with a source if known
   • estimate extent of the problem – slow trickle vs. significant flow

The sooner we learn about these incidents, the better our chances of finding the source and correcting the problem.