Improving water quality is an important issue in the United States of America. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) legislation in order to control storm water runoff. The legislation covers many areas, including construction, industrial, state and municipal operations. The Federal Phase II regulations went into effect on March 10, 2003. The regulation, among other things, required all small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas to submit a General Permit application.

The NPDES Phase II program in Connecticut is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The “General Permit for the Discharge of Storm water from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” was issued by the DEEP on January 9, 2004. All municipalities in Connecticut that contain urbanized areas and were not covered by the NPDES Phase I regulations are required to prepare and implement a Storm water Management Plan. An Urbanized Area is defined as having a population density of 1,000 or more people per square mile based on the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Monroe is one of 130 towns in Connecticut that contains urbanized areas and is required to develop and implement a Storm water Management Plan. The municipalities have five (5) years to implement the plan. The plans must address Six Minimum Control Measures and implement Best Management Practices for each measure. Best Management Practices (BMP) are defined by State Statute as those practices which reduce pollution and which have been determined by the Commissioner of the DEEP to be acceptable based on, but not limited to, technical, economic, and institutional feasibility.

The Six Minimum Control Measures are as follows:

1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Participation
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
   1. Map Storm Sewer Outfalls
   2. Screen Outfalls for Non-Storm water Discharges
   3. Ordinance Prohibiting Non-Storm water Discharges
4. Construction Storm water Management
5. Post-Construction Storm water Management
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
   1. Street Sweeping and Catch Basin Cleaning
   2. Training Town Employees
   3. Evaluate Storm Sewer Systems for Possible Upgrading and Repair

In addition, the Town will be conducting annual wet weather sampling of the storm water discharges.

PHASE II NPDES STORM WATER PERMIT

What is a Watershed?

Webster's Dictionary defines a watershed as:

1: Water parting, 2: a region or area bounded peripherally by a water parting and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water, 3: a crucial dividing point or line.

WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED

The Town of Monroe has parts of seven different watersheds which are numbered and catalogued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). They are as follows:

DEEP Number Abbreviation Watershed Name
6000 HS Housatonic River
6020 PT Pootatuck River
6022 HW Halfway River
6024 ME Means Brook
6025 FM Far Mill River
7105 PQ Pequonnock River
7108 ML Mill River

To find out what watershed in the Town of Monroe you live in, refer to the Watershed Map available for your review in the Town Clerk's office or Inland Wetlands Department.

YOU CAN IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY IN YOUR WATERSHED

What you do at home can improve the water quality in the watershed you live in and all tributary watersheds downstream. No act is too small. We can all make a difference. Please refer to the attached Clean Water Fact Sheets entitled “Clean Waters – Starting in Your Home and Yard”.

1. What’s the Big Deal About Water Quality
2. Managing Your Household Chemicals
3. Caring for Your Septic System
4. Integrated Pest Management and Biological Control for the Homeowner
5. Conservation Landscaping for Water Quality
6. Animal Waste and Water Quality
7. Going Native – Rethinking Plant Selection for the Home Landscape
8. Lawn Care the Environmentally – Friendly Way
9. The Four Seasons of Water Quality Protection
10. Conserving Water at Home
11. Environmentally Friendly Boating

General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, Issuance Date: January 9, 2004. This is the State Statute for what is known as GP - MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System).

NOTICE TO DEVELOPERS AND ENGINEERS:

npdes – phase ii regulations and engineering guidelines

The following contains detailed information regarding the State regulations for stormwater and design information that must be used to comply with the Federal, State and local regulations for developments within the Town of Monroe.

General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater and Dewatering Wastes Associated with Construction Activities, Modifies: April 8, 2004. This is the State Statute that places additional restrictions on stormwater discharges and construction activities to address the EPA’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) – Phase II requirements. This is known as GP – Stormwater.

Connecticut Department of Transportation, Guide to the New General Stormwater Discharge Permit, modified April 8, 2004. This is a guide compiled by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), Office of Environmental Planning, to assist designers in the understanding of the new requirements. It should be noted that ConnDOT must receive environmental approval directly from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and is exempt from local municipality review and approval. For private development within the Town of Monroe, the following must be performed to comply with the GP – Stormwater regulations. Areas refer to the total project area disturbed, regardless of phasing:

1. For disturbed areas less than 5 acres, the Stormwater Pollution Control Plan must be submitted to the Monroe Director of Public Works. No submission to the DEEP is required. Notification of Termination must be submitted to the Director of Public Works.

2. For disturbed areas of at least 5 acres but less than 10 acres, the Stormwater Pollution Control Plan must be submitted to the Monroe Director of Public Works. Registration with the DEEP is required. Notification of Termination must be submitted to the Director of Public Works and to the DEEP.

3. For disturbed areas greater than 10 acres, the Stormwater Pollution Control Plan must be submitted to the Monroe Director of Public Works and the DEEP. Registration with the DEEP is required. Notification of Termination must be submitted to the Director of Public Works and to the DEEP.

For additional information regarding the MS4 program, visit the following website, DEEP Stormwater Managment, or email James Dimeo, P.E., Town Engineer, or Chris Nowacki, Director of Public Works. 

Associated Information:

Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, By the Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This is the guide for sediment and erosion control for all construction projects in the state.
Click here for manual

Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual
By the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This is the guide to be followed by designers and reviewers to comply with stormwater regulations.
Click here for manual

Connecticut Department of Transportation Drainage Manual
By the Office of Engineering Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations Division of Design Services Hydraulics and Drainage Section, October 2000, includes May 2002 revisions. This is the guide for all storm drainage design within the Town of Monroe.
Click here for manual

Watch what happens when it rains - view the "After the Storm" video (also available at the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library).
Click for video

USGS Subregional Drainage Basins and Town Quadrangle Index