Why is Stormwater Important?
Many people think that most water pollution is the result of industrial chemical dumping or sanitary sewer overflows. However, water quality is significantly affected by things we do every day. When it rains, stormwater picks up debris from roads, chemicals from lawns, oil from cars and bacteria from animal waste. These pollutants make their way through our storm sewer system and into our waterways, impairing water quality. A three-part stormwater educational series was printed in the Grand Rapids Press in the Spring 2010.
A watershed is the land the water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, or lake. Wyoming is located in the Grand River Watershed.
Stormwater that leaves the City eventually enters Lake Michigan – the source of our drinking water and site of many recreational opportunities. Thus, our actions within the community have a direct impact on local streams and rivers as well as surrounding communities.
Additional Educational Resources:
- Be Stormwater Savvy
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
- EPA General Information
- EPA Watershed Information
The United States EPA issued the Phase II Stormwater Rule in 1999, requiring the City (and other communities in the area) to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in an effort to “preserve, protect and improve the Nation’s water resources from polluted stormwater runoff”. This permit is administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Wyoming is required to manage its stormwater system, known as a Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4), according to the Phase II permit requirements.
The Phase II requirements consist of six minimum control measures, namely:
- Public Education and Outreach
- Public Participation and Involvement
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction-site Runoff Control
- Post-construction Runoff Control
- Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
Regulation Resources: