How should we manage stormwater?
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Traditionally, our water infrastructure— such as storm drains and culverts — has dealt with precipitation as something to get rid of rather than to protect. Storm drains and pipes channel rainfall and snowmelt into receiving waters, often far from its place of origin, losing groundwater recharge, reducing base flows in streams, increasing flooding, and lowering water quality as they do.

Recently, a more forward way of thinking considers natural methods of water management, replacing the pipes and drains, and having benefits to the environment and economy. These natural approaches include:

  • Using soil and vegetation in a constructed technique, such as rain gardens or green roofs, to mimic natural hydrologic processes like percolation through soil and plant uptake and transpiration.
  • Preserve natural features, such as floodplains with a natural vegetation buffer along streams that can slow, filter, and store polluted runoff.
  • Minimize or disconnect impervious surfaces (such as pavement), using methods such as rain barrels, narrower streets and permeable paving.​

These techniques protect the natural water cycle by slowing or infiltrating precipitation rather than sending it directly into storm sewers or nearby streams. These approaches, when used properly, help maintain a more natural watershed, which in turn keeps our rivers clean and our communities healthy.

What is being done in Indiana to control stormwater?

Indiana’s efforts to clean up the waters in the State have been going on for a long while now. Beginning with the Stream Pollution Control Law of 1943, followed by the Clean Water Act of 1972, limits have been placed on the amount of pollutants that may be discharged into the waters of the State. These limits are set at levels protective of both the aquatic life in the waters which receive the discharge and protective of human health.

In 1990, EPA tightened the rules, and set up a basic stormwater control program for states to adopt, known as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. “Phase I” of this program regulated:
  • Construction activities that disturbed 5 or more acres.
  • Industrial activities depending on their pollutant potential
  • Municipal activities serving over 100,000 people

In 1999, the EPA implemented “Phase II” of the NPDES program, and published new regulations that covered:
  • Construction activities disturbing one (1) or more acres of land area.
  • Incentives for facilities to protect their operations from stormwater exposure.
  • Municipalities with less than 100,000 people.

As a result of regulating construction activities, communities would benefit with:
  • Improved water quality
  • Safer waters for boating, swimming and fishing.
  • Reduced local drinking water treatment costs.
  • Fewer recreational beach closures.
  • A more desirable environment in which to live.

What’s happening in Indiana as a result of Phase II?

Indiana established a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program (MS4 Program), based on Phase II of the EPA’s NPDES stormwater regulations. Under this program, communities are required to apply for and obtain a NPDES permit. The permit requires them to develop a stormwater management plan and to implement best management practices (stormwater pollution prevention measures).

The MS4 regulations apply to any entity that discharges into the waters of Indiana and that owns and/or operates a stormwater conveyance that is separate and not connected to a publicly owned treatment works or part of a combined sewer system. This covers not only cities and towns, but also public entities such as universities, military bases, and departments of transportation. By the way, a conveyance is just that – a means of conveying or carrying water flow such as:
  • Roads with drainage systems
  • Municipal streets
  • Catch basins (curbside openings)
  • Curbs
  • Gutters
  • Ditches
  • Channels
  • Storm drains

What’s happening in Clark County?

The municipalities of Jeffersonville, Sellersburg, Clark County (as a whole), and Clarksville all fall under the new Phase II and MS4 regulations. In order to comply with program requirements, these communities will be:
  • ​Increasing public awareness of stormwater pollution.
  • Eliminating illegal connections and discharges to storm sewer systems.
  • Increasing sediment controls at construction sites.
  • Requiring controls in new development to remove pollutants from stormwater.
  • Improving pollution prevention from community facilities, such as maintenance garages, equipment areas, and work areas.

Details of the Phase II regulations can be found on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) – Office of Water Quality web site: https://www.in.gov/idem/stormwater/.