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Stormwater

Follow the FlowWhat is stormwater?

Stormwater is rain and snow melt that does not soak into the ground; it runs off surfaces, such as pavement, and flows into the storm drain system or directly to waterbodies. As it flows over roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, and other surfaces, it picks ups pollutants (think hitch hikers) on its journey to the nearest catch basin or waterbody. Stormwater that enters a storm drain makes its way through a network of underground pipes before eventually reaching a local waterbody, such as the Taunton River, Cotley River, or Charles Brook.

What are common stormwater pollutants?

Stormwater pollutants can include heavy metals from brake pad dust, leaks and drips of fluids from automobiles, chemicals and nutrients from pesticides, fertilizers, and lawn care; bacteria from pet waste and failing septic systems, unproperly disposed of household hazardous wastes, detergents from car washing, litter, sediment, and more.

What is the Town of Berkley doing to help?

The Town of Berkley is regulated for stormwater discharges from the municipal storm sewer system (MS4) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent MS4 General Permit was issued by EPA in 2016 and became effective on July 1, 2018. The permit requires the Town to implement the following six minimum control measures:

  1. Public Education and Outreach
  2. Public Involvement and Participation
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program
  4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
  5. Post Construction Stormwater Management
  6. Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention

For more information, referred to the related documents linked below.

“Follow the Flow” Illustration Credit (above, right): Jada Fitch, courtesy of ThinkBlueMaine.org

Related Documents

What can you do to help?

We can all do our part to reduce the potential for stormwater to come into contact with pollutants, which in turn will improve the quality of our local waterbodies!

Preventing Polluted Runoff

For more ways you can help:

Additional Links