Erosion and Sediment Control
Background
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II requirements issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency seek to implement a program to protect the quality of surface waters (such as lakes and streams) by controlling pollution from storm water discharges. What this means for the City of Bloomington, and most other cities, is enhanced storm water sewer system maintenance, and the implementation of new storm water management activities.
These activities include public education programs, public participation in storm water management functions, controls on storm water runoff from new developments both during and after construction, an ongoing search for illicit discharges into the storm sewer system, and municipal pollution prevention programs such as increased frequency of street sweeping.
All parcels, regardless of their location in a watershed, have an impact on our water resources. Pervious surfaces, such as lawns, allow rain to seep into the ground. Impervious surfaces, such as roofs and parking lots, block this absorption, which increases runoff volumes. The City of Bloomington's storm water management system collects the runoff through a series of gutters, inlets, storm sewers, detention basins, and stream channels. In the older section of the City, the existing sewer systems are mostly "combined" sewers. A combined sewer conveys both domestic sewage and storm water runoff in the same pipe.
Why is an Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance Needed?
In the past, storm sewer system planning focused on flood control, utilizing sound practices of sewer system sizing, flood routing, and storm water detention. The growing pressures of urbanization and increased federal regulation have dictated that modern storm water system management must take a total water resources management point of view, considering not only the volume of storm runoff, but also pollution prevention.
Most people think storm water runoff is a relatively harmless, natural occurrence, and do not realize it has the potential to pollute one of our most precious natural resources, our lakes and streams. Storm water frequently has high levels of sediment, litter, phosphorus, nitrogen, heavy metals, oil, grease, and organic materials. Soil erosion annual deposits approximately 4 tons of sediment/silt into our creeks, streams, rivers and lakes in Illinois. It also compromises the effectiveness of our storm sewer system.
The City of Bloomington has chosen to take a socially responsible, proactive approach to systematically manage the storm water discharged by our community. By managing runoff and preventing the pollutants from entering the environment, we are striving to avoid the potentially high costs of flooding, future treatment and increased federal regulation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has set forth specific requirements regarding Construction Site Run-off Control and Post Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment. The U. S. EPA has issued permitting authority to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency thereby tasking them with ensuring all communities required to comply with the Clean Water Act Phase II requirements do so. The following requirements can be found in the December 8, 1999 Federal Register, on pages 68758 and 68759 or in any ILR10 form issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency:
Construction Site Runoff Control:
The City must:
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develop, implement, and enforce a program to reduce pollutants in any storm water runoff to your small MS4 from construction activities that result in a land disturbance of greater than or equal to one acre. Reduction of storm water discharges from construction activity disturbing less than one acre must be included in your program if that construction activity is part of a larger common plan of development or sale that would disturb one acre or more or has been designated by the permitting authority.
The City's program must include the following:
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An ordinance or other regulatory mechanism to require erosion and sediment controls, as well as sanctions to ensure compliance, to the extent allowable under state or local law;
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Requirements for construction site operators to implement appropriate erosion and sediment control best management practices;
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Requirements for construction site operators to control waste such as discarded building materials, concrete truck washout, chemicals, litter, and sanitary waste at the construction site that may cause adverse impacts to water quality;
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Require all regulated construction sites to have a storm water pollution prevention plan that meets the requirements of Part IV of NPDES permit No. ILR10 including management practices, controls and other provisions at least as protective as the requirements contained in the Illinois Urban Manual, 2002.
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Procedures for site plan review which incorporate consideration of potential water quality impacts and review of individual pre-construction site plans to ensure consistency with local sediment and erosion control requirements;
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Procedures for receipt and consideration of information submitted by the public;
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Procedures for site inspections and enforcement of control measures.
Post-construction Storm Water Management in new development and redevelopment:
The City must:
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develop, implement, and enforce a program to address storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment projects that disturb greater than or equal to one acre, including projects less than one acre that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale or that have been designated to protect water quality, that discharge into your small MS4. Your program must ensure that controls are in place that would protect water quality and reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable;
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develop and implement strategies which include a combination of structural and/or nonstructural BMP's appropriate for your community that will reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable;
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use an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism to address post-construction runoff from new development and redevelopment projects to the extent allowable under state or local law;
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require all regulated construction sites to have post-construction management that meets or exceeds the requirements of Section IV (D)(2)(b) of NPDES permit No. ILR10 including management practices, controls, and other provisions at least as protective as the requirements contained in the Illinois Urban Manual, 2002.
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ensure adequate long-term operation and maintenance of Best Management Practices (BMP's); AND
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define appropriate BMPs for this minimum control measure and measurable goals for each BMP. These measurable goals must ensure the reduction of all of the pollutants of concern in your storm water discharges to the maximum extent practicable.
The City of Bloomington City Council passed amendments to the existing Chapter 24 of the Bloomington City Code on July 25, 2005. The amendments created new regulations regarding Erosion and Sediment Control and amended some existing ordinance language. The amended Ordinance became effective for enforcement on August 8, 2005. Chapter 24 of the Bloomington City Code can be viewed here.
Please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) website at:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swphases.cfm
Concerns or Problems?
City of Bloomington residents that have storm water and/or sanitary sewer issues should call (309) 434-2423, Monday - Friday, 8 AM-5 PM.
Questions or Comments?
We consider our customers to be a vital part of our organization. It is only through your feedback that we may determine if we are meeting the needs of our residents. Please contact us with any questions or comments you may have regarding this program.
If you have any questions regarding the City’s Storm Water Management Utility, the Bloomington Storm Water Credit Manual or other activities of the Engineering Department, contact us at:
City of Bloomington
Engineering Department
115 E. Washington St.
PO BOX 3157
Bloomington, IL 61702-3157
(309) 434-2423
