FAQs on Stormwater

What is Stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is water from rain or melted snow that cannot be absorbed by the soil and instead washes off the land surface.
Why is untreated stormwater runoff a problem?  Here are just a few problems associated with stormwater runoff:

• Causes beach closings
• Common source of pollutants in streams, lakes, and reservoirs
• Contributes to and aggravates flooding problems Increases stream temperature

How does stormwater runoff become polluted?
As stormwater moves over the land and towards streams, rivers and lakes, it can be contaminated with a number of substances such as:

• Sediment - from construction sites and eroding stream banks
• Organic materials -such as grass and lawn clippings
• Oil and gasoline - from automobiles and storage tanks
• Nutrients - such as phosphates and nitrates from fertilizer
• Pesticides - from lawns, gardens and golf courses
• Pathogens - such as bacteria and viruses from pet waste, failing septic systems and animals
• Trash and street garbage - such as plastics and paper
• Road Chemicals - such as salt from snow treatment and rubber from tires gripping the asphalt

What is the goal of a stormwater management plan?
The goal of any stormwater management program should be to ensure that the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff from a specific development is not substantially altered from pre-development conditions for a "normal" storm. For storms like Hurricane Floyd, unfortunately, most storm water management plans will fail.

What are some stormwater management practices?
The following are some practices available for managing stormwater:

• Vegetative practices - naturally vegetated filter strips, grassed swales, constructed wetlands, tree plantings.
• Structural practices - concrete grid and modular pavement, diversions, extended detention, retention and infiltration basins, porous pavement, water quality inlets (oil/grit separators).
• Maintenance practices - fertilizer and pesticide application control, litter and leaf control, vehicle maintenance, street cleaning.

What are some benefits of a stormwater management program?
Here are a few of the numerous benefits of having a stormwater management plan:

• Flood protection - proper stormwater management practices retain runoff on the site and release it slowly, preventing flood damage on and off-site.
• Groundwater recharge - increases movement of water into the ground to recharge the water table.
• Erosion and sediment control - reduces the volume of stormwater runoff from the site, keeping soil on the land and out of the storm sewers, streets and waterbodies.
• Water quality protection - prevents runoff carrying pollutants from washing off land and running into streams, lakes, and coastal waters. This protects drinking water, recreation and wildlife habitat.
• Infrastructure protection - stormwater management practices keep sediment out of highway ditches, culverts and waterways, reducing the costs for maintenance, dredging and replacement of public facilities.
• Lower flood insurance premiums - under the Community Rating System (CRS) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a community that implements an approved stormwater management program can achieve credit. This can reduce flood insurance premiums for residents.

What regulations exist to control stormwater runoff?
There are local, state and federal regulations for stormwater runoff control:

• Local - In New York State, local governments have the legal authority to enact regulations for stormwater management. In Yorktown, Chapter 165 of the Town Code states that "Stormwater management design will follow the procedures and methodology set forth in the Soil Conservation Service Technical Release No. 55 (TR 55) and the provisions of DEC Division of Water TOGS § 5.1.8". Developers are supposed to contain runoff from "ten-year" storms and to design drainageways to accomodate 100-year storms.
• State - Under the Federal Clean Water Act, developers of construction sites meeting certain thresholds must obtain a stormwater discharge permit from the state. In New York State the DEC has an approved program for issuing permits in accordance with federal stormwater regulations.
• Federal - The EPA's Storm Water Phase II Final Rule may require six activities for stormwater control in the town of Yorktown:

Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation/Involvement
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Runoff Control
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping
 

Public Education and Outreach:
Distributing educational materials and performing outreach to inform citizens about the impacts polluted storm water runoff discharges can have on water quality.

Public Participation/Involvement:
Providing opportunities for citizens to participate in the program development and implementation, including effectively publicizing public hearings and/or encouraging citizen representatives on a storm water management panel.

Illict Discharge Detection and Elimination:
Developing and implementing a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges toa storm sewer system (includes developing a system map and informing the community about hazards associated with illegal discharges and improper disposal of waste).

Construction Site Runoff:
Developing, implementing, and enforcing an ertosion and sediment controlprogram for construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land (controls could include silt fences and temporary storm water detention ponds).

Post-Construction Runoof Control:
Developing, implementing and enforcing a program to address discharges of post-construction storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment areas. Applicable controls could include peventative actions such as protecting sensitive areas (e.g., wetlands) or the use of structural best management practices such as grassed swales (ditches) or porous pavement.

Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping:
Developing and implementing, and enforcing a program with the goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations. The program must include municipal staff training on pollution prevention measures and techniques (e.g., regular street sweeping, reduction in the use of pesticides or street salt, or frequent catch basin cleaning).