Stormwater Management

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was established under the authority of the Clean Water Act in 1972. The NPDES program is responsible for controlling and regulating point sources of discharge of pollutants to waters within each state to maintain, protect and restore the water quality of streams, lakes and rivers. In 1990, Phase I of the NPDES stormwater program was established to regulate stormwater runoff. In 1999, Phase II of the NPDES stormwater program was established and required communities that were not part of Phase I to develop and implement a comprehensive stormwater management program. Those communities that were included in Phase II of the program were designated as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has designated the University of Northern Iowa as a qualifying MS4, which requires the University to comply with the Phase II stormwater regulations. The UNI has storm sewer facilities that serve the buildings and property of the University for stormwater drainage and runoff management. Stormwater runoff from the different areas of the University are conveyed to Dry Run Creek and its branches and to the City of Cedar Falls' storm sewer system.