Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Stormwater management is especially important in urban areas due to decreases in natural land cover and the expansion of impervious surfaces like rooftops, sidewalks and roadways. These surfaces intensify runoff because they change the permeability of the landscape, preventing rainwater from soaking into or infiltrating the soil. Some of the impacts of stormwater include flooding, sewer overflows, and nonpoint source pollution.
Stormwater is managed using storm sewers and best management practices which include green infrastructure and low impact development.
The City of Stevens Point has a Phase II-regulated municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) and therefore is required to include in its stormwater management program conditions to meet the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit. This permit allows the city to continue to discharge stormwater to lakes and rivers provided the city meets the specific requirements of the permit. The permit requires the permittee (The City of Stevens Point) to implement the following:
- Public Outreach and Education
- Public Involvement and Participation
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction Site Pollution Control
- Post Construction Stormwater Management
- Pollution Prevention
- Stormwater Quality Management
- Storm Sewer Mapping and Annual Reporting