Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Hamilton County Storm Water District and the Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) Permit
Why was the District founded? The District was founded to help its member communities comply with the MS4 General Permit to maintain stormwater quality throughout the majority of Hamilton County, Ohio. The latest MS4 General Permit was issued on April 1, 2021 and will remain in effect for 5 years until March 31, 2026.
What is an MS4? An MS4 is a system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) owned or operated by a public entity that discharges into surface waters and is designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater.
What types of issues should I report to the District?
The Stormwater District responds to general, regulatory and water quality questions. Staff can also address construction complaints or questions related to:
What is an MS4? An MS4 is a system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) owned or operated by a public entity that discharges into surface waters and is designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater.
What types of issues should I report to the District?
The Stormwater District responds to general, regulatory and water quality questions. Staff can also address construction complaints or questions related to:
- dumping in storm drains, streams, rivers or other waterways
- excessive soil erosion or runoff from construction sites or agricultural fields
- illicit cross connections between storm and sanitary sewers
- sewage in waterways
- other sources of pollution
About Stormwater
What is stormwater?
Water that comes from a rain event or melting snow is known as stormwater.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common body of water such as a stream, lake, or wetland.
How can stormwater cause flooding?
Stormwater flowing over surfaces like pavement on roadways, streets, parking lots, and driveways will not soak into the ground. As more development occurs, resulting in more areas where stormwater can't soak into the ground, more stormwater becomes runoff.
What is stormwater runoff?
In urban areas, rain or snow that falls on hard surfaces such as roads, driveways, rooftops, and parking lots is not absorbed. This stormwater runs off into storm drains that discharge into local rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. You can see these drains at street corners or along roadways.
Why is stormwater a problem?
Stormwater runoff picks up pollutants from hard surfaces and carries them to storm sewers that discharge into our local water bodies, without treatment. Excess stormwater runoff can also contribute to flooding.
What are the most common pollutants found in stormwater?
Pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, road salt, solvents, raw sewage, silt, and other solid materials are often found in stormwater.
Why should you care about stormwater?
What we do on the land within a watershed affects water quality. Pollutants can wash off the land into streams, rivers, or other waterways. Healthy watersheds provide services including clean drinking water and recreation, support economies and the environment, and improve the quality of life.
Is this just a local problem?
No, stormwater pollution is a problem nationwide. Approximately 40% of water bodies in the United States are polluted and do not meet national water quality standards.
What is a TMDL?
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, established under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, focuses on identifying and restoring polluted rivers, streams, lakes, and other surface water bodies. TMDLs are organized by watershed. You can find more information on TMDLs on the Ohio EPA’s TMDL website (Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program).
Which watersheds have TMDLs?
The Little Miami River and Mill Creek watersheds are currently subject to TMDL requirements. In 2022, the Great Miami River Watershed was issued a Final Ruling on Water Quality Standards. Within the next five years, it is expected this watershed will also be impacted by TMDL requirements. A list of communities impacted by TMDL requirements is included in Appendix A of the 2021 MS4 permit.
Water that comes from a rain event or melting snow is known as stormwater.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common body of water such as a stream, lake, or wetland.
How can stormwater cause flooding?
Stormwater flowing over surfaces like pavement on roadways, streets, parking lots, and driveways will not soak into the ground. As more development occurs, resulting in more areas where stormwater can't soak into the ground, more stormwater becomes runoff.
What is stormwater runoff?
In urban areas, rain or snow that falls on hard surfaces such as roads, driveways, rooftops, and parking lots is not absorbed. This stormwater runs off into storm drains that discharge into local rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. You can see these drains at street corners or along roadways.
Why is stormwater a problem?
Stormwater runoff picks up pollutants from hard surfaces and carries them to storm sewers that discharge into our local water bodies, without treatment. Excess stormwater runoff can also contribute to flooding.
What are the most common pollutants found in stormwater?
Pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, road salt, solvents, raw sewage, silt, and other solid materials are often found in stormwater.
Why should you care about stormwater?
What we do on the land within a watershed affects water quality. Pollutants can wash off the land into streams, rivers, or other waterways. Healthy watersheds provide services including clean drinking water and recreation, support economies and the environment, and improve the quality of life.
Is this just a local problem?
No, stormwater pollution is a problem nationwide. Approximately 40% of water bodies in the United States are polluted and do not meet national water quality standards.
What is a TMDL?
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program, established under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, focuses on identifying and restoring polluted rivers, streams, lakes, and other surface water bodies. TMDLs are organized by watershed. You can find more information on TMDLs on the Ohio EPA’s TMDL website (Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program).
Which watersheds have TMDLs?
The Little Miami River and Mill Creek watersheds are currently subject to TMDL requirements. In 2022, the Great Miami River Watershed was issued a Final Ruling on Water Quality Standards. Within the next five years, it is expected this watershed will also be impacted by TMDL requirements. A list of communities impacted by TMDL requirements is included in Appendix A of the 2021 MS4 permit.
