Introduction
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 storm water program was established to regulate storm water runoff. In 1999, phase II of the NPDES storm water program was established and required communities that were not part of phase I to develop and implement a comprehensive storm water management program. Those communities that were included in phase II of the program were designated as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).
Background
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 storm water regulations. The UNI has storm sewer facilities that serve the buildings and property of the University for storm water drainage and runoff management. Storm water 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.
NPDES Phase II Requirements
- Submit an annual report each calendar year with the first report due in 2007.
- Implement a public education and outreach program about the impacts of storm water discharges and measures that can be implemented to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff.
- Include information in a facilities services newsletter
- Label all storm sewer intakes on campus
- Inform the campus community about storm water and water quality through the FS web site
- Implement a public involvement and participation program that includes the following:
- Establish a storm water management team
- Establish a storm water hotline
- Continue the after events clean up program
- Develop, implement and enforce a discharge detection and elimination program that includes the following:
- Develop an illicit discharge prohibition policy statement
- Develop a program to identify and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm water system
- Map all storm water outfalls and intakes on the University
- Develop, implement and enforce a construction site storm water runoff control program that includes the following:
- Develop and implement a construction site runoff control policy
- Establish standard operating procedures for NPDES construction permits
- Develop and implement a construction site inspection program
- Develop and implement pollution prevention plan review procedures
- Develop, implement and enforce a post-construction plan to manage storm water runoff
- Establish a post-construction runoff control policy statement
- Establish site plan review procedures
- Develop and implement an operation and maintenance program for pollution prevention
- Design and implement an education program for staff
- Establish an inspection and maintenance program of the MS4
- Establish a spill response and prevention plan
The University's MS4 permit is valid until September 17, 2016, after which it will need to be renewed. The IDNR has established timelines for compliance with the various components of the NPDES permit. A UNI storm water management team has been established and the team will provide direction that will lead to full compliance with the MS4 permit.