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Background

The federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permitting program was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in two phases.

Phase I, promulgated in 1990, addresses the following sources:

• "Large" and "medium" municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) located in incorporated places and counties with populations of 100,000 or more, and Eleven categories of industrial activity, one of which is large construction activity that disturbs 5 or more acres of land.

Phase II, promulgated in 1999, addresses additional sources, including MS4s not regulated under Phase I, and small construction activity disturbing between 1 and 5 acres. In Vermont nine municipalities with municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) are required to come into compliance with this Phase II rule.

In October 2000, EPA authorized the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to implement the NPDES stormwater permitting program in the State of Vermont. The NPDES stormwater program regulates point source discharges of stormwater into surface waters of the State of Vermont from certain municipal, industrial and construction activities. As the NPDES stormwater permitting authority, DEC is responsible for promulgating rules and issuing permits, managing and reviewing permit applications, and performing compliance and enforcement activities.

In Vermont nine municipalities with municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) are required to come into compliance with this Phase II rule. These communities are Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston, and Winooski. Three publicly owned 'non-traditional' separate storm sewer systems were also designated. These systems are owned or operated by the University of Vermont, Burlington International Airport and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The regulations apply to areas served by each MS4 that are located either within the Census Bureau urban census designated area or watersheds that are principally impaired by stormwater.

We did a phone survey of people who lived in Chittenden County, and here's what we found out:

• Nearly 2 out of 3 survey respondents did not know that water from their outdoor lawn and garden runs directly into storm drains or creeks, rivers and Lake Champlain untreated. Twenty-seven percent of respondents admit that they don’t know where stormwater goes. Our waterways are the final destination of stormwater -- brooks, streams, rivers and ultimately, Lake Champlain. Except for a portion of the storm drain system in Burlington, stormwater in Chittenden County is not treated prior to discharge.
• Forty percent of respondents report using fertilizer. Of these most use it on their lawn (44%) or gardens (48%). Thirty-nine percent of respondents use chemicals to control insects and thirty-two percent use chemicals to control weeds. Of people who report using pesticides, most (48%) apply pesticides to the lawn. Pesticides are toxic and can be deadly to fish and their aquatic habitats. If chemicals must be used, they should be used sparingly and no more than the recommended amounts should be applied. Using natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides is preferable. Avoid applying fertilizers and pesticides before it rains.
• Twenty-seven percent of pet owners admit to not taking care of dog waste on walks; Thirty-eight percent do not take care of pet waste in their yards. Pet waste contains bacteria and viruses that can contaminate surface and ground water, and cause beach closings. Pet owners should pick up after their pet and dispose of waste in a garbage can or toilet.
• Fifty-seven percent of respondents wash their car at home. Of these sixty-eight percent always wash their car over paved surfaces and another ten percent occasionally wash their cars over paved surfaces. Washing cars at home often uses more water than a commercial car wash and can introduce soap, oil and engine grime into the environment. Commercial car washes often filter, clean, and recycle wastewater and are required to dispose of it at a treatment facility. If you must wash cars at home, wash less, use a biodegradable phosphate-free soap, and wash it on the grass so that wastewater can soak into the ground.
• Respondents believed the following activities had little or no impact on water quality: household construction projects (41%), hosing sediment off of driveways (47%), runoff from lawns and gardens (39%), and parking lot/road runoff (28%). All of these activities are problematic because they contribute to sediment, which damages water quality. While one individual’s impact from any one of these activities is minor, the combined and cumulative impact of these common practices has a significant impact on the quality of local waterways.