MS4 Stormwater Permitting
Overview:
The MS4 permit requires each town to implement a public education and outreach program that reaches four different audiences and that includes messages that are most relevant to that community. Below you will find helpful links for residents, commercial entities, developers and industrial users.
The link to the video below outlines the impact of stormwater on the Connecticut River and simple changes we can make around our homes and businesses to help improve water quality.
Stormwater & The Connecticut River
For more information regarding stormwater and ways to help improve the quality of local water ways visit the Think Blue Connecticut River Website.
To view the Think Blue Massachusetts video "Fowl Water": Click Here
Better Stormwater Management
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Guide for Homeowners
Be a Beneficial Lake Effect: Protecting your Lake or Pond from Stormwater Pollution
Stormwater - What You Can Do as a Citizen
Better Lawn Care and Reduced Use of Herbicides/Pesticides
Stormwater Pollution Education: Fertilizing the Lawn
Lawn & Garden Tips to Reduce Stormwater Pollution
Infiltrating Stormwater in your own Yard
Going Green with Stormwater: Rain Gardens
Utilizing Rainwater and Gravity: A Guide to Rain Gardens - Special thanks to Amelia for sharing this link!
Proper Management of Pet Waste
Dog Waste & Surface Water Quality
Take the PUP (Pick up Poop) Pledge
Proper Disposal of Leaf Litter
Septic System Maintenance
Better Management of Salt & De-icing Materials
Anti-icing Materials- Best Management Practices
Better Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management for Small Businesses
Pollution Prevention for Businesses
Common and Effective Construction BMP's
Stormwater- What You Can Do as a Developer
How Low-Impact Development(LID) Principles and Technologies Reduce Development Cost
Builder's Guide to Low-Impact Development (LID)
Disturbing an Acre or More: How to Comply with EPA's Construction General Permit
US EPA: Stormwater Pollution Prevention for Small Residential Construction Sites
How to Manage Stormwater at Industrial Sites
Industrial Stormwater Best Management Practices
Other Informative Links
Water Cycle Glossary of Terms - This link provides a glossary of common water terms and how those terms relate to the water cycle.
The Water Cycle - This link provides information about the water cycle and cloud formation.
Stormwater Management Program (SWMP)
The SWMP describes and details the activities and measures that will be implemented to meet the terms and conditions of the permit. The SWMP accurately describes the permittee's plans and activities. The document should be updated and/or modified during the permit term as the permittee's activities are modified, changed or updated to meet permit conditions during the permit term. The main elements of the stormwater management program are (1) a public education program in order to affect public behavior causing stormwater pollution, (2) an opportunity for the public to participate and provide comments on the stormwater program (3) a program to effectively find and eliminate illicit discharges within the MS4 ( 4) a program to effectively control construction site stormwater discharges to the MS4 (5) a program to ensure that stormwater from development projects entering the MS4 is adequately controlled by the construction of stormwater controls, and (6) a good housekeeping program to ensure that stormwater pollution sources on municipal properties and from municipal operations are minimized.
Click to View the Stormwater Management Plan