Why is stormwater management important?

Precipitation of any kind that falls on city streets, parking lots, rooftops, industrial properties, and lawns often becomes polluted before it enters the city’s combined and separate storm sewer systems through catch basins and other drainage structures. Polluted stormwater runoff is then transported through the city storm sewer systems and eventually discharged into our local rivers and streams without receiving any treatment. These pollutants have the potential to adversely affect water quality in local waterways, thereby creating a potential health hazard and degrading aquatic life habitat.

How is the City of Wheeling involved?

Part of the mission of the City of Wheeling Water Pollution Control Division (W.P.C.D.) is to reduce the quantity of pollutants entering area waterways contained in polluted stormwater runoff. The Federal Clean Water Act requires the City of Wheeling to develop and implement a Stormwater Management Program that implements six control measures (Best Management Practices) to address polluted stormwater runoff. The following provides a brief summary of BMPs and their required control measures. The City is currently implementing and planning a variety range of projects to meet all requirements.

Public Education and Outreach

This includes distributing educational materials and performing outreach to inform citizens about the impacts polluted storm water runoff discharges can have on water quality and steps they can take to reduce or prevent pollutions

Public Involvement and Participation

Providing opportunities for citizens to participate in program development and implementation, including effectively publicizing public hearings and/or encouraging citizen representatives on a storm water stakeholders panel.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Developing and implementing a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm water system.

Construction Site Runoff Control

Developing, implementing, and enforcing an erosion and sediment control program for construction activities in urban areas to control erosion and minimize the discharge of the other potential contaminants from construction sites.

Post Construction Stormwater Management (New and Redevelopment)

Developing, implementing, and enforcing a program to address discharges of post-construction storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment areas. Applicable controls could include preventative actions such as protecting vulnerable areas (i.e. streams) or the use of structural BMPs such as grassed swales or buffer strips.

Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

Developing and implementing a program with the goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations. The program must include municipal staff training on pollution prevention measures and techniques (e.g., regular street sweeping, reduction in the use of pesticides or street salt, and frequent catch-basin cleaning).

For Businesses

The City of Wheeling attempts to provide accurate and useful information to businesses on how they can help prevent stormwater pollution from entering local streams, creeks, and rivers. Businesses in Wheeling must follow Wheeling City Code requirements regarding stormwater pollution prevention.

For Construction

All development and redevelopment proposals that exceed a one-acre disturbance are subject to the requirements of the City of Wheeling’s stormwater management ordinances. Requirements include management of erosion and sediment control related to stormwater during the construction process and installation of permanent stormwater management for the completed project. Until the City publishes a Stormwater Manual, developers are advised to use USEPA/WVDEP Guides “Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan” and “West Virginia Stormwater Management and Design Manual."

For Industries

In order to minimize the impact of stormwater discharges from industrial facilities, the West Virginia National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WVNPDES) program includes an industrial stormwater permitting component. Operators of industrial facilities included in one of the 20 categories of stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity that discharge or have the potential to discharge stormwater to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) or directly to waters of the State require authorization under a NPDES industrial stormwater permit.

For more information: http://www.wvdep.org/dwwm/stormwater/