Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is storm water?
Water that comes from a rain event or melting snow is known as storm water.
What is storm water runoff?
In urban areas, rain or snow that falls on hard surfaces such as roads, driveways, rooftops, and parking lots is not absorbed. This storm water 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 storm water a problem?
Storm water runoff picks up pollutants from hard surfaces and carries them to storm sewers that discharge into our local water bodies, without treatment. Excess storm water runoff can also contribute to flooding.
What are the most common pollutants found in storm water?
Pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, road salt, solvents, raw sewage, silt and other solid materials are often found in storm water.
How does polluted storm water affect our environment?
It can lead to fish kills, destruction of wildlife habitat, excessive siltation, loss of aesthetic value, impaired recreational areas, and contaminated drinking water resources.
Is this just a local problem?
No, storm water pollution is a problem nationwide. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of water bodies in the United States are polluted and do not meet national water quality standards.
What is the government doing about the storm water problem?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized that polluted storm water was a widespread problem and began working on a solution in the early 1990s. In 1999, the U.S. EPA established a new storm water program that requires urban communities to implement a plan to improve the quality of storm water entering our waterways and reduce the negative impacts to the environment.
Do we have a storm water plan?
Yes. Hamilton County has developed a storm water management plan. The plan will be administered through the Hamilton County Storm Water District, which includes each of the townships along with each of the municipalities that have taken formal action to join the District. You will be hearing a lot more about the plan in the near future.
What is the NPDES Phase II Permit Program and how does it affect me?
The Phase II program is the result of a new USEPA rule that requires more than 480 local governments across Ohio, including all but Crosby Township in Hamilton County, to apply for a storm water permit by March 10, 2003.
Water that comes from a rain event or melting snow is known as storm water.
What is storm water runoff?
In urban areas, rain or snow that falls on hard surfaces such as roads, driveways, rooftops, and parking lots is not absorbed. This storm water 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 storm water a problem?
Storm water runoff picks up pollutants from hard surfaces and carries them to storm sewers that discharge into our local water bodies, without treatment. Excess storm water runoff can also contribute to flooding.
What are the most common pollutants found in storm water?
Pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, road salt, solvents, raw sewage, silt and other solid materials are often found in storm water.
How does polluted storm water affect our environment?
It can lead to fish kills, destruction of wildlife habitat, excessive siltation, loss of aesthetic value, impaired recreational areas, and contaminated drinking water resources.
Is this just a local problem?
No, storm water pollution is a problem nationwide. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of water bodies in the United States are polluted and do not meet national water quality standards.
What is the government doing about the storm water problem?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized that polluted storm water was a widespread problem and began working on a solution in the early 1990s. In 1999, the U.S. EPA established a new storm water program that requires urban communities to implement a plan to improve the quality of storm water entering our waterways and reduce the negative impacts to the environment.
Do we have a storm water plan?
Yes. Hamilton County has developed a storm water management plan. The plan will be administered through the Hamilton County Storm Water District, which includes each of the townships along with each of the municipalities that have taken formal action to join the District. You will be hearing a lot more about the plan in the near future.
What is the NPDES Phase II Permit Program and how does it affect me?
The Phase II program is the result of a new USEPA rule that requires more than 480 local governments across Ohio, including all but Crosby Township in Hamilton County, to apply for a storm water permit by March 10, 2003.
