Phase II Stormwater
WHY IS THE PHASE II STORM WATER PROGRAM NECESSARY?
Since the passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the quality of our Nation's waters has improved dramatically. Despite this progress, however, degraded waterbodies still exist. According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, a biennial summary of State surveys of water quality, approximately 40 percent of surveyed U.S. waterbodies are still impaired by pollution and do not meet water quality standards. A leading source of this impairment is polluted stormwater runoff.

The Storm Water Phase II Final Rule is the next step in EPA's effort to preserve, protect, and improve the Nation's water resources from polluted storm water runoff. The Phase II program expands the Phase I program by requiring additional operators of MS4s in urbanized areas and operators of small construction sites, through the use of NPDES permits, to implement programs and practices to control polluted storm water runoff.

For more information on EPA's federal program, go to:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/phase2.cfm

WHAT IS INDIANA DOING TO CREATE PHASE II STORMWATER RULES?
In Indiana, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has written its own rules to address how Indiana entities will be expected to meet strict water quality standards. There are three new stormwater rules currently being developed by IDEM:

Stormwater Runoff From Construction Sites: - 327 IAC 15-5 "Rule 5"
Stormwater Runoff From Industrial Sites: - 327 IAC 15-6 "Rule 6"
Stormwater Runoff From Urbanized Areas: - 327 IAC 15-13 "Rule 13"

SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

If you are a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) designed to treat at least 1 million gallons per day, or if you are a WWTP that is required by IDEM to have an industrial pre-treatment program, then you are required to get an industrial NPDES stormwater discharge permit under revised Rule 6.

The Indiana Water Pollution Control Board final adopted a revised industrial stormwater rule on May 8, 2003. This revised industrial stormwater rule is codified as 327 IAC 15-6. In general, this will require the submission of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to comply with the general permit-by-rule, detailed mapping of your facility, the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, and the collection of stormwater samples. To read more about Rule 6, click here.

However, if your wastewater treatment plant is located within a municipality or county that is required to comply with the municipal stormwater program known as "MS4" (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) or "Rule 13", then you may have other options available for compliance.

Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. is a leading expert in the State of Indiana with respect to all stormwater programs. We are currently assisting numerous cities, towns, counties, universities, and private industries with developing stormwater management strategies. If you have questions about the applicability of Rule 6 or Rule 13 to your wastewater treatment plant, please feel free to contact Don Larson or Eric Welling

For additional information on Rules 6 and 13, please see each section on our web page.