MS4 Solutions - Beyond the Flyer

Rain Garden Network's Solution to Two of the MS4 Permitting Requirements

Right now we are working on a series of programs, approaches and presentations for municipalities, their residents & local landscape contractors which are designed to support municpal efforts to incorporate green infrastructure on public and private property.

Are you an MS4?

An MS4 is a municipal separate storm sewer system or MS4 is "a conveyance or system of conveyances....owned by a Federal, State, city, town or other public or private entity that discharges to waters of the state.

It is designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water. Separate storm sewer system includes ditches, curbs, gutters, storm sewers, and similar means of collecting or conveying runoff that do not connect with a wastewater collection system or treatment plant.

It is NOT a combined sewer, or part of a system that flows to a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW).

To be a "municipal separate storm sewer system" (MS4), the system must be owned or operated by a public agency—for example:

• a city or town
• a municipal utility district, flood control district, or other special district
• a county
• a state or federal agency

Illinois list of MS4s as of 2000

Illinois status report

Presentation

USEPA Small MS4

Are you satisfying your permits regarding public education, outreach and participation?

Public Education and Outreach on stormwater impacts

ILR40 - The permittee must:

Implement a public education program to distribute educational materials to the community or conduct equivalent outreach activities about the impacts of stormwater discharge on water bodies and the steps that the public can take to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff; the permittee should incorporate into its education materials information about green infrastructure strategies such as green roofs, rain gardensm rain barrels, bioswales, permeable piping, dry wells and permeable pavement, that mimic natural processes and direct stormwater to areas where it can be infiltrated, evapotraspirated or reused, discuss the benefits and costs of such strategies and provide guidance to the public on how to implement them.

Public Participation/Involvement

Providing opportunities for citizens to participate in program development and implementation, including effectively publicizing public hearings and/or encouraging citizen representatives on a stormwater management panel.