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This chapter introduces Maintenance personnel to best management practices needed for proper Stormwater Management for UDOT. Maintenance personnel need to understand the impacts and reasons why proper Stormwater Management is required in their day-to-day operations; it is their responsibility to protect water quality by preventing or reducing the discharge of pollutants to surface water, groundwater, or a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4).
This chapter illustrates how UDOT’s Stormwater Team is organized. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of Central and Region personnel for inspecting, reporting, detecting, managing, and tracking the different aspects of stormwater management. Required training will be provided along with more specific information regarding Stormwater Management. The goal of this chapter is to clarify how Maintenance employees play a vital part in maintaining the health of watersheds, reducing the risk of flooding, and preserving the quality of natural water bodies.
The MS4 permit falls under the purview of the Federal Clean Water Act that requires that stormwater discharges from certain types of facilities be authorized under stormwater discharge permits (See 40 CFR 122.26). Utah is a delegated State which means the Environmental Protection Agency has delegated this authority to Utah to administer water quality regulatory programs. The program has been delegated to the State of Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) and is known as the Utah Pollution Discharge and Elimination System (UPDES), which acts as the permitting and enforcement agency. UDOT has its own municipal storm and separate sewer system and must obtain an MS4 permit from DWQ.
UDOT’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requires the creation and development of a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) that outlines and describes the practices and procedures for how UDOT will reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants to Waters of the State. The SWMP states the processes and procedures to protect water quality that adheres to requirements of the MS4 permit. The SWMP outlines the six minimum control measures that UDOT has developed, implemented, and will enforce to reduce discharge of pollutants to the MS4.
Definitions
Definitions
Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management is the practice of managing the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff from a work site whether it be construction, or maintenance related activities. Stormwater Management protects water quality by preventing or reducing the discharge of pollutants to surface water, groundwater, or a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). Stormwater refers to the water that originates during precipitation events, such as rain or snow, and can cause flooding and erosion if not properly managed. Effective Stormwater Management involves a combination of engineering, planning, and maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) to control runoff and minimize its impact on the environment. These efforts are regulated by State and Federal laws.
Key Aspects of Stormwater Management
Key Aspects of Stormwater Management
Collection, conveyance, storage, treatment, and discharge of stormwater are key to proper Stormwater Management. These efforts prevent or minimize water pollution, protect ecosystems, and reduce the risk of damage to human life and property.
Low Impact Development (LID)
Low Impact Development (LID)
Promotes the implementation of BMPs that allow stormwater to infiltrate, have evapotranspiration or harvest and use stormwater on site to reduce runoff from the site and to protect water quality.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
An MS4 is a conveyance system that is:
Owned by a state, city, town, village, or other public entity that discharges to surface waters.
Designed or used to collect or convey stormwater (e.g., storm drains, pipes, ditches).
Not combined with the sanitary sewer.
Not part of a sewage treatment plant, or publicly owned treatment works (POTW).
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit
All operators of an MS4 (MS4 Permit Link) are required to obtain a Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) permit and develop Stormwater Management programs (SWMPs). The SWMP describes the practices that will be implemented consistent with UPDES permit requirements to minimize the discharge of pollutants to surface waters.
The UDOT MS4 permit describes six minimum control measures (MCMs) or focus areas that each present their own unique requirements to UDOT for the purpose of preventing or reducing runoff or pollutants to the storm drainage system and ultimately our local waterways:
Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts
Public Involvement/Participation
Illicit Discharge and Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Long-Term Stormwater Management
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for UDOT Facilities and Operations
Figure 12.0.1
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a site-specific, written document developed to identify and mitigate potential sources of stormwater pollution at a facility. The SWPPP will outline the BMPs employed to eliminate or reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from the site, and includes information about the facility, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relative to the activities conducted at the maintenance station, a site map, and lists of materials stored at the station.
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
An illicit (illegal) discharge is any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer system and/or the environment–storm drains, pipes, and ditches–that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Pollutants end up in storm drain sewer systems in a number of ways, many of which are easily preventable. If UDOT Maintenance forces encounter what they believe to be an illicit discharge or spill they are to notify the RSC immediately and take measures to control the spread of the spill.
Examples of Illicit Discharges and Pollutants
Figure 12.0.2
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
UDOT is required to implement a Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping program for all UDOT owned or operated facilities, operations, and structural stormwater controls that includes standard operating procedures (SOPs), BMPs, inspections, and a training program that have the ultimate goal of preventing runoff of pollutants to the MS4 and waters of the state. Staff at UDOT facilities play a crucial role in reducing or preventing runoff to the storm drainage system.
Examples of Illicit Discharges and Pollutants
Figure 12.0.3
Figure 12.0.4
Figure 12.0.5
Best Management Practice (BMP)
Best Management Practice (BMP)
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are structural, vegetative, or managerial practices used to reduce or prevent water pollution. UDOT facilities are required to implement a variety of these practices that are selected to address the specific pollutants that have potential to be discharged from the facility. UDOT staff are required to regularly inspect BMPs at their facilities to ensure they are functioning as intended and to identify necessary repairs or maintenance.
Figure 12.0.6
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are formal, written guidelines or instructions for maintenance activities that typically have both operational and technical components.
Figure 12.0.7
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