Georgetown County Georgetown County Stormwater UtilityStormwater Utility

Chris Laude – County EngineerChris Laude – County EngineerZollie Green – Senior EngineerZollie Green – Senior Engineer

Chris Allen – InspectorChris Allen – InspectorShelly Jordan – Quality/Billing Shelly Jordan – Quality/Billing

Coordinator Coordinator

What is Stormwater?What is Stormwater?

• Rain or snow that falls on streets, Rain or snow that falls on streets, parking areas, rooftops and other parking areas, rooftops and other developed land and either flows developed land and either flows directly into nearby streams or directly into nearby streams or travels through drainage systems.travels through drainage systems.

• The flows are then discharged, The flows are then discharged, untreated, into Georgetown County’s untreated, into Georgetown County’s streams and creeks.streams and creeks.

What is a Stormwater What is a Stormwater Utility?Utility?

• It is a County created, separate entity It is a County created, separate entity and fund that has been established to and fund that has been established to fund operations and maintenance fund operations and maintenance functions on existing stormwater functions on existing stormwater infrastructure, administration of the infrastructure, administration of the County’s federally mandated municipal County’s federally mandated municipal permit, engineering and technical permit, engineering and technical review staff, and the design and review staff, and the design and construction of capital improvements.construction of capital improvements.

Why do we have a stormwater Why do we have a stormwater utility fee? utility fee?

• After studying the issue of Georgetown After studying the issue of Georgetown County’s stormwater needs, County Council County’s stormwater needs, County Council passed an ordinance establishing the passed an ordinance establishing the stormwater enterprise fund after three stormwater enterprise fund after three readings on June 12readings on June 12thth, 2007., 2007.

• State and Federal mandates to ensure clean State and Federal mandates to ensure clean water are un-funded mandates. A water are un-funded mandates. A stormwater fee is the most equitable stormwater fee is the most equitable revenue source to solve the County’s revenue source to solve the County’s stormwater needs. stormwater needs.

• The stormwater program will enable The stormwater program will enable the County to comply with federal the County to comply with federal regulations as well as protect our regulations as well as protect our community through improved community through improved drainage and protection of local drainage and protection of local waters.waters.

• As the County grows in population, the As the County grows in population, the stormwater issues increase. stormwater issues increase.

• Increased development means more Increased development means more land disturbance.land disturbance.

• Increased water usage means more Increased water usage means more potential for water pollution problems.potential for water pollution problems.

• Aging, deterioration and undersized Aging, deterioration and undersized stormwater systems currently in place stormwater systems currently in place need to be repaired, replaced and in need to be repaired, replaced and in some cases, established. This costs some cases, established. This costs money.money.

• If Georgetown County does not meet If Georgetown County does not meet the standards, then we risk being fined the standards, then we risk being fined thousands of dollars per day, which the thousands of dollars per day, which the County can ill afford to pay. County can ill afford to pay.

• The enterprise fund is a necessary The enterprise fund is a necessary revenue source to offset the revenue source to offset the competition for dollars with other competition for dollars with other County needs. County needs.

Other sources of revenue Other sources of revenue funds. funds.

• The County charges permitting fees for The County charges permitting fees for stormwater, which pay a portion of the stormwater, which pay a portion of the cost for reviewing new development. cost for reviewing new development.

• In the future, additional state and In the future, additional state and federal program monies, such as federal program monies, such as grants, may be obtained for certain grants, may be obtained for certain types of projects. types of projects.

Who benefits from a Who benefits from a stormwater management stormwater management program? Everyone.program? Everyone.

• Residents, business and industry Residents, business and industry owners, students, visitors and owners, students, visitors and developers all benefit. It protects developers all benefit. It protects roadways, property and receiving roadways, property and receiving streams and other waters. It streams and other waters. It addresses both flooding and water addresses both flooding and water quality concerns.quality concerns.

Who pays the fee?Who pays the fee?

• Every parcel in Georgetown County Every parcel in Georgetown County with 400 square feet of impervious with 400 square feet of impervious surface or more will pay a surface or more will pay a stormwater user fee.stormwater user fee.

• Single family residential, multi-family Single family residential, multi-family residential and non-residential residential and non-residential properties will pay the fee, including properties will pay the fee, including the County itself.the County itself.

• Single Family Residential parcels will Single Family Residential parcels will pay $52.00 per year or one ERU.pay $52.00 per year or one ERU.

• An Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU) is An Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU) is used as the base unit for the used as the base unit for the stormwater utility fee.stormwater utility fee.

• One ERU is equal to 3,770 square One ERU is equal to 3,770 square feet of impervious surface. feet of impervious surface.

• Impervious surfaces are surfaces Impervious surfaces are surfaces that can not effectively infiltrate that can not effectively infiltrate rainfall (building rooftops, rainfall (building rooftops, pavements, sidewalks, driveways, pavements, sidewalks, driveways, etc.), and that is not constructed etc.), and that is not constructed using pervious pavement technology.using pervious pavement technology.

Who is exempt from paying the Who is exempt from paying the fee?fee?

• No public or private parcel shall be exempt No public or private parcel shall be exempt from Stormwater Management Utility service from Stormwater Management Utility service charges and fees.charges and fees.

• Exemptions are public road rights-of-way Exemptions are public road rights-of-way used for general public transportation used for general public transportation purposes.purposes.

• Public road rights-of-way conveyed and Public road rights-of-way conveyed and accepted for maintenance by County accepted for maintenance by County Stormwater Management Utility service Stormwater Management Utility service charges.charges.

• Railroad rights-of-way with a stone base and Railroad rights-of-way with a stone base and used only for trackage.used only for trackage.

Stormwater affects us allStormwater affects us all

• Stormwater run-off carries contaminants and Stormwater run-off carries contaminants and sediments back into our water table, which sediments back into our water table, which we use for bathing, drinking, and recreation.we use for bathing, drinking, and recreation.

• Water Pollution issues stem from stormwater Water Pollution issues stem from stormwater run-off, and the stormwater utility was run-off, and the stormwater utility was created to deal with these potential pollution created to deal with these potential pollution issues within Georgetown County. issues within Georgetown County.

Stormwater pollution issues.Stormwater pollution issues.

• Pet Waste – Improperly disposed of animal waste Pet Waste – Improperly disposed of animal waste contaminates our water table.contaminates our water table.

• Pet waste contains contaminants such as pathogens Pet waste contains contaminants such as pathogens and nutrients. Pathogens can cause illness. and nutrients. Pathogens can cause illness.

• Pet wastes enter our water resources when they are Pet wastes enter our water resources when they are left on the land. When rain or snowfall occurs, a left on the land. When rain or snowfall occurs, a portion of the precipitation infiltrates into the portion of the precipitation infiltrates into the ground. This process can result in the infiltration of ground. This process can result in the infiltration of the contaminants as well. In certain circumstances, the contaminants as well. In certain circumstances, this process can result in the contamination of this process can result in the contamination of groundwater, which may be providing drinking groundwater, which may be providing drinking water to domestic wells. water to domestic wells.

• Water, which does not infiltrate the soil, Water, which does not infiltrate the soil, runs across the land surface. During this runs across the land surface. During this process, pollutants on the land are picked process, pollutants on the land are picked up and ultimately transported to our up and ultimately transported to our waters. waters.

• Motor oil dumped on the ground and Motor oil dumped on the ground and poured down a storm drain contaminates poured down a storm drain contaminates the water system.the water system.

• Fertilizers and pesticides improperly Fertilizers and pesticides improperly administered in your lawn and surrounding administered in your lawn and surrounding lands also can potentially contaminate lands also can potentially contaminate our water system.our water system.

Contaminating our WatersContaminating our Waters

Stormwater run-off carries Stormwater run-off carries everything loose in it’s path everything loose in it’s path back into the water table. back into the water table.

Water Quality Affects More Water Quality Affects More Than Just Us!Than Just Us!

Stormwater issues are a Stormwater issues are a community concern and community concern and

Georgetown County Georgetown County Stormwater is working hard Stormwater is working hard

to assist in protecting our to assist in protecting our clean water resources!clean water resources!

Questions and Answers Questions and Answers SessionSession

What is NPDES?What is NPDES?

• ““NNational ational PPollutant ollutant DDischarge ischarge EElimination limination SSystem” ystem”

• The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. In essence, the permit translates general health. In essence, the permit translates general requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person provisions tailored to the operations of each person discharging pollutants. discharging pollutants.

NPDES Background NPDES Background

• 1972 Clean Water Act 1972 Clean Water Act – Administered by the US Environmental Administered by the US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA)Protection Agency (EPA)– Created NPDES permitting process Created NPDES permitting process – Multiple amendmentsMultiple amendments

• 1987 1987 – An amendment to CWA called Water An amendment to CWA called Water

Quality Act required EPA to develop phased Quality Act required EPA to develop phased program to regulate storm water program to regulate storm water discharges under NPDES program. discharges under NPDES program.

NPDES Storm Water NPDES Storm Water ProgramProgram• Point Source PollutionPoint Source Pollution

– Discharges from readily Discharges from readily identifiable sources such as identifiable sources such as wastewater treatment wastewater treatment plants or industrial facilitiesplants or industrial facilities

• Non-point Source Non-point Source PollutionPollution– Discharges that are less Discharges that are less

easily identifiable such as easily identifiable such as runoff from urbanized or runoff from urbanized or agricultural areasagricultural areas

NPDES in South CarolinaNPDES in South Carolina

• South Carolina is an NPDES South Carolina is an NPDES delegated state. delegated state.

• NPDES regulations are administered NPDES regulations are administered by South Carolina Department of by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). (DHEC).

• Construction General Permit (CGP) is Construction General Permit (CGP) is a component of NPDES. a component of NPDES.

NPDES Phase II Construction NPDES Phase II Construction General Permit General Permit

• Issued February of 2005; appealed Issued February of 2005; appealed

• Appealed settled in late 2005 Appealed settled in late 2005

• New Phase II CGP became effective on New Phase II CGP became effective on September 1, 2006 September 1, 2006

• Existing or ongoing permitted projects Existing or ongoing permitted projects will be grandfathered under old will be grandfathered under old regulations and not have to meet regulations and not have to meet Phase II CGP requirementsPhase II CGP requirements

Who must obtain NPDES Who must obtain NPDES permit coverage?permit coverage?

• All land disturbing activities greater All land disturbing activities greater than or equal to 1 acre. than or equal to 1 acre.

• Any disturbance within ½ mile of a Any disturbance within ½ mile of a receiving water body in the S.C. receiving water body in the S.C. Coastal Zone (except individual Coastal Zone (except individual single family homes not part of a single family homes not part of a subdivision development.)subdivision development.)

Requirements of CGPRequirements of CGP

• Develop and implement Storm Water Develop and implement Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) – Identification of operators to be working onsiteIdentification of operators to be working onsite– Sequence of construction Sequence of construction – Locations of all BMPs necessary to minimize Locations of all BMPs necessary to minimize

pollutants in stormwater discharges to meet pollutants in stormwater discharges to meet applicable water quality standards. applicable water quality standards.

– Locations of Surface Waters of the State Locations of Surface Waters of the State – Must be in compliance with all other Must be in compliance with all other

applicable permits or CGP is invalid. applicable permits or CGP is invalid.

Requirements of CGP Requirements of CGP

• Must comply with Federal reporting Must comply with Federal reporting requirements related to spills or releases requirements related to spills or releases or oils or other hazardous substances. or oils or other hazardous substances.

• File Notice of Termination (NOT) when File Notice of Termination (NOT) when construction is complete construction is complete

• Retain all documentation required by Retain all documentation required by permit for permit for three yearsthree years from time permit from time permit is terminated. is terminated.

What’s ComingWhat’s ComingSmallSmall Municipal Separated Storm Sewer Municipal Separated Storm Sewer

System (MS4)System (MS4)

-Unfunded Mandate from EPA to DHEC -Unfunded Mandate from EPA to DHEC to Local Governmentto Local Government

-Six Elements of Program-Six Elements of Program

--Public Education--Public Education

--Public Involvement--Public Involvement

--Illicit Discharge--Illicit Discharge

--Construction Activities--Construction Activities

--Post Construction--Post Construction

Municipal ActivitiesMunicipal Activities

Public EducationPublic Education

• WHYWHY– Increases Support for ProgramIncreases Support for Program– Increases Compliance with ProgramIncreases Compliance with Program

• HowHow– NewslettersNewsletters– Website InformationWebsite Information– Training ProgramsTraining Programs– BrochuresBrochures– Public Services AnnouncementsPublic Services Announcements

Public Participation & Public Participation & InvolvementInvolvement

• WhyWhy– Educate CitizensEducate Citizens– Forum for Reporting ProblemsForum for Reporting Problems

• HowHow– Public Notice Compliance ProgramPublic Notice Compliance Program– Citizen Panel InvolvementCitizen Panel Involvement– Community Clean-upsCommunity Clean-ups

Illicit Discharges, Detection & Illicit Discharges, Detection & EliminationElimination

• WhyWhy– Improve Water QualityImprove Water Quality

• HowHow– Detection and Elimination ProgramDetection and Elimination Program– Outfall Map PreparationOutfall Map Preparation– Outfall InspectionsOutfall Inspections– Used Oil Recycling ProgramUsed Oil Recycling Program

Construction Site RunoffConstruction Site Runoff

• WhyWhy– It’s the Law of the LandIt’s the Law of the Land– Site Runoff Carries Sediment and PollutionSite Runoff Carries Sediment and Pollution– Increasing Volume of Runoff Increases FloodingIncreasing Volume of Runoff Increases Flooding

• HowHow– Best Management Practices RequirementsBest Management Practices Requirements

Post-Construction Runoff Post-Construction Runoff ControlControl

• WhyWhy– Untreated Runoff Contains Oil/Greases, Untreated Runoff Contains Oil/Greases,

Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Fertilizers and Pet Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Fertilizers and Pet WasteWaste

• HowHow– Maintaining BMPs from Construction PhaseMaintaining BMPs from Construction Phase– Retrofitting BMPs that are not WorkingRetrofitting BMPs that are not Working– Non-Structural BMPs (Education, Pet Waste Non-Structural BMPs (Education, Pet Waste

Pickup, Proper Use of Fertilizer and Pickup, Proper Use of Fertilizer and Pesticides)Pesticides)

Municipal Activities-Pollution Municipal Activities-Pollution Prevention & Good Prevention & Good HousekeepingHousekeeping• WhyWhy

– County Maintains Roads, Ditches, Parks Landfill County Maintains Roads, Ditches, Parks Landfill ectect

• HowHow– Operations and Maintenance Pollution Operations and Maintenance Pollution

Prevention PlanPrevention Plan– Employee Training ProgramsEmployee Training Programs– Information Management SystemInformation Management System– Park and Open Space Maintenance ProceduresPark and Open Space Maintenance Procedures