Public Education and Outreach
An informed and knowledgeable community is crucial to the success of a storm water management program. Without a public knowledge of local water quality problems caused by urban runoff, it is difficult to obtain public support for local storm water quality programs. This support ranges from individuals changing their daily actions to community backing for this overall storm water management plan. As with all of the aspects of this plan, the goal of this program is to reduce the degradation of local water bodies and improve chemical, physical and biological quality of waters of the state. In order to achieve this water quality benefit, the Public Education program is targeted to encourage changes in public behavior by improving the understanding of the reasons why storm water quality programs exist. The long-term goal is to achieve greater compliance with all of the programs included in this plan as the public becomes aware of the personal responsibilities expected of them and others in the community, including the individual actions they can take to protect or improve the quality of area waters.
Public Involvement and Participation
The public can provide valuable input and assistance to the County’s municipal storm water management program. Since it is the activities of the public within urban landscapes that produce diffuse pollution, and the public that funds municipalities, it is imperative that the public be given opportunities to play an active role in both the development and implementation of the program. An active and involved community is crucial to the success of a storm water management program because it allows for: Broader public support, since citizens who participate in the development and decision making process are partially responsible for the program and are more likely to take an active role in its implementation; A broader base of expertise and economic benefits, since the community can be a valuable, free, intellectual resource; and a conduit to other programs, as citizens involved in the storm water program development process provide important cross-connections and relationships with other community and government programs.
The Land Conservation Department will be the responsible department for accepting, documenting and following up on information, questions, or concerns submitted by the public in relation to erosion control and storm water management. Contact the Department at anytime if you have an interest in being involved in future activities related to the municipal storm water management program or any of the following programs:
Illicit Discharge and Elimination
An illicit discharge is defined by the permit as any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of storm water except discharges authorized by a WPDES permit or other discharge not requiring a WPDES permit such as landscape irrigation, individual residential car washing, fire fighting and similar discharges. Illicit discharges can result in untreated discharges that contribute high levels of pollutants, including heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, viruses, and bacteria, to receiving waterbodies. Pollutant levels from these illicit discharges have been shown in EPA studies to be high enough to significantly degrade receiving water quality and threaten aquatic life, wildlife, and human health.
Regulatory Requirements
As of January 2013, the County is in the process of creating an Illicit Discharge Ordinance to prevent and eliminate illicit discharges and connections to the MS4 within the permitted area. This draft ordinance contains provisions for the prohibition of discharge, spilling or dumping of non-storm water substance or materials into the waters of the state or the MS4. The draft ordinance identifies non-storm water discharges that are not considered illicit and establishes inspection and enforcement authority to the County Conservationist or his/her designated representative.
Currently, the draft ordinance enumerates the following as non-stormwater discharges that are not considered illicit discharges: water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, ground water infiltration, uncontaminated pumped ground water, foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, individual residential car washing, natural riparian habitat or wetland flows, swimming pools (if dechlorinated - typically less than one PPM chlorine), fire fighting activities, and any other water source not containing Pollutants
In addition to the Illicit Discharge Ordinance, in the coming years, the County will be completing or implementing an Initial Field Screening of the MS4, On-going Field Screening Procedures, and Illicit Discharge Response Procedures in compliance with the terms of the WPDES MS4 Permit.
Construction Site Pollution Control
Polluted storm water runoff from construction sites often flows to MS4s and ultimately is discharged into local rivers and streams. Sediment is usually the main pollutant of concern. Sediment runoff rates from construction sites are typically 10 to 20 times greater than those of agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those of forest lands. During a short period of time, construction sites can contribute more sediment to streams than can be deposited naturally during several decades. The resulting siltation, and the contribution of other pollutants from construction sites, can cause physical, chemical, and biological harm to our nation’s waters. For example, excess sediment can quickly fill rivers and lakes, requiring dredging and destroying aquatic habitats. Additional pollutants are also often present in storm water runoff from construction sites and may result in degradation of receiving water. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) are of specific concern and can cause significant impairment. In addition, solid and sanitary wastes, pesticides, oil and grease, concrete truck washout, construction chemicals, construction debris and metals may be discharged and cause an impact on receiving waters.
Rock County adopted a Construction Site Erosion Control Ordinance in March 2004 (Chapter 27 of the Rock County Code of Ordinances) based on the NR 152 Model Ordinance. The Ordinance references the DNR's technical standards and specifications and maintains the performance standards found in NR 151 and the plan requirements contained in NR 216. The Erosion Control Ordinance currently has jurisdiction in the unincorporated portions of Rock County, except Beloit Township (which has their own ordinance), and in areas annexed by a city or village that does not have an erosion control ordinance that meets or exceeds the standards of the DNR and Rock County (as per 59.693(10) Wis. Stats.)
The Land Conservation Department has been tasked by the Rock County Board of Supervisors with administering the Construction Site Erosion Control Ordinance. Contact Andrew Baker if you have any questions about the program.
Post-Construction Storm Water Management
Post-construction storm water management in areas undergoing new development or redevelopment is necessary because runoff from these areas has been shown to significantly affect receiving water bodies. Many studies indicate that prior planning and design for the minimization of pollutants in post-construction storm water discharges is the most cost-effective approach to storm water quality management. There are generally two forms of substantial impacts from post-construction runoff. The first is caused by an increase in the type and quantity of pollutants in storm water runoff. As runoff flows over areas altered by development, it picks up harmful sediment and chemicals such as oil and grease, pesticides, heavy metals, and nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus). These pollutants often become suspended in runoff and are carried to receiving waters, such as lakes, ponds, and streams. Once deposited, these pollutants can enter the food chain through small aquatic life, eventually entering the tissues of fish and humans. The second kind of post-construction runoff impact occurs by increasing the quantity of water delivered to the water body during storms. Increased impervious surfaces interrupt the natural cycle of gradual percolation of water through vegetation and soil. Instead, water is collected from surfaces such as asphalt and concrete and routed to drainage systems where large volumes of runoff quickly flow to the nearest receiving water. The effects of this process include stream bank scouring and downstream flooding, which often lead to a loss of aquatic life and damage to property.
Rock County adopted a Post-Construction Storm Water Management Ordinance in March 2004 (Chapter 28 of the Rock County Code of Ordinances) based on the NR 152 Model Ordinance. The Ordinance references the DNR's technical standards and specifications and maintains or exceeds the performance standards found in NR 151 and the plan requirements contained in NR 216. Long-term maintenance provisions are established by the ordinance and an agreement is recorded at the Register of Deeds for each project as a covenant running with the land. The Storm Water Ordinance currently has jurisdiction in the unincorporated portions of Rock County, except Beloit Township (which has their own ordinance), and in areas annexed by a city or village that does not have a storm water ordinance that meets or exceeds the standards of the DNR and Rock County (as per 59.693(10) Wis. Stats.)
The Land Conservation Department has been tasked by the Rock County Board of Supervisors with administering the Storm Water Management Ordinance. Contact Christopher Murphy (608-754-6617 ext. 4760) if you have any questions about the program.
