The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has released the results of its 2022 National Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Needs Assessment Survey.
The survey by WEF’s Stormwater Institute explores MS4 sector needs, as well as common challenges facing regulated U.S. stormwater organizations.
The 2022 survey analysis estimates an annual funding gap for all MS4s in the U.S. to be about $6.2 billion. This year’s survey finds that municipal stormwater programs across the nation face significant challenges in maintaining infrastructure, securing funding, and addressing workforce needs.
"WEF has filled a data need in the sector,” said Scott Taylor, chairman of the National Municipal Stormwater Association and chair of the survey’s work team, in WEF's results announcement. “This survey fills a real hole about what MS4s struggle with to implement their stormwater program to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act."
The survey was conducted between late 2022 and early 2023. It received 643 responses from 47 states and specific MS4 program managers. The respondents included Phase I and II communities, as well as Phase II nontraditional permittees. WEF says that the sample size provides the results with a statistical significance with a 5% margin of error.
