Town of Natick - What is Stormwater?

Employment Opportunities

Information for Employees

What is Stormwater?

Printer-Friendly Version

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious areas like driveways, parking lots, buildings, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the ground. As stormwater flows it picks up oils, salt, litter, sediment and other pollutants. This stormwater runoff can flow directly into the Town’s street storm drain collection system, or travel overland before it empties into waterbodies like a Natick lake, stream, river, or wetland with little or no treatment to remove the pollutants that could be transporting. These are the same waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing public drinking water. Check out these NPDES Stormwater definitions.

WHY BE CONCERNED ABOUT STORMWATER?

Stormwater runoff can have a number of impacts. As development and imperviousness increase in an area, the natural capacity of the soil and vegetation to infiltrate and take up rainfall decreases, and more rainfall becomes stormwater runoff. This can produce negative impacts by causing erosion of land areas and stream banks, by causing or increasing flooding and also by carrying pollutants to surface waters. As Natick grows, development increases. When more houses, roads and businesses are constructed, water has nowhere to go and can cause serious drainage, pollutant, and sanitation problems. The following diagram demonstrates how continued development causes:

· Increased Imperviousness

· Increased Runoff

· Increased Pollutants

· Impact to Streambanks

· Erosion/Sedimentation

WHAT IS A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that certain communities such as Natick must file for a permit under the Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. This program required communities such as Natick to create a Stormwater Master Plan that address six Minimum Control Measures. These measures will be addressed by the Town implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) appropriate for Natick’s community. The BMPs will commence according to the schedules provided in the NPDES Phase II Permit. The six Minimum Control Measures for stormwater enhancements are as follows:

· Public Education & Outreach

· Public Involvement & Participation

· Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination

· Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

· Post Construction Stormwater Runoff Control

· Good Housekeeping in Municipal Operations

For any questions or comments about Stormwater Management, please contact:

For Flooding:	Tom Hladick, Highway and Sanitation Supervisor	1-508-647-6562
For Construction Site/Erosion Control Problems:	Bob Bois, Conservation Agent	1-508-647-6452
For Illicit Discharges:	James White, Director of Public Health	1-508-647-6460
For General Questions:	John Digiacomo, Project Engineer	1-508-647-6551

Natick Town Offices 13 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760
Phone: (508) 647-6400 Town Fax Numbers

Virtual Town Hall Website