Storm-Water Management

The City of Norwalk considers successful storm water management a critical element in keeping the community clean, beautiful and safe. Norwalk storm water management works to improve the quality of storm water being discharged into the local waterways. The information shown below provides details on Norwalk’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit as required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

What is STORMWATER?

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) defines stormwater as: “The rainfall or snowmelt that runs off permeable surfaces or impervious surfaces like roads, buildings, sidewalks or compacted ground surfaces. Stormwater can flow directly to streams and lakes or it may be transported by municipal storm drain systems. Unlike sanitary sewers, storm sewers do not lead to treatment plants, but drain directly into our streams and lakes.”

“As communities grow, they often experience more stormwater runoff problems due to their increasing impervious surface areas. Rainfall and snowmelt that would normally infiltrate into the soil becomes runoff. This increases both the volume and rate of runoff, which leads to flooding, streambank erosion, and potential damages to public and private property and water quality.”

Stormwater Advisory Committee

The City of Norwalk maintains a Public Utility Advisory Committee which acts as the Stormwater Advisory Committee composed of local residents with varying professions and backgrounds. The Committee is intended to provide a community perspective on public utility and stormwater issues and meet monthly to attempt to accomplish goals the group sets forth.

Council Liaison: Jaki Livingston

Members / Term Expires:

Aaron Uhl / 7/01/2018

Newton Standridge, Chair / 7/01/2016

Dan Merriman / 7/01/2016

Tim Kalvig / 7/01/2017

Ric Graves / 7/01/2017

Construction Sites & Erosion Control

Erosion control on construction sites is a key component to a successful stormwater management program. Construction sites can often be areas where sediment discharge and stormwater pollution take place. Proper site stabilization and stormwater management practices are critical to eliminate the discharge of sediment and pollutants from these sites.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) NPDES Permit and the City of Norwalk’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit both require that all construction activity over one acre create and maintain a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. The City of Norwalk is mandated by the MS4 to inspect Norwalk construction sites and ensure that they comply with the required state and local requirements.

Norwalk SWPPP Inspection Checklist

Available Brochures

Urban Storm Water Retrofit BMP's

Common Sense Conservation

Concrete Washout

Household Hazardous Waste

Protecting Iowa's Water Quality

A Common Storm Water Management Misconception

The Art to "SMART" Development

A New Storm Water Paradigm

Watersheds 101

NPDES Permit General Permit