Missouri Town Prepares for Storm Water Mandates

Union, Mo., city officials are gearing up for a more stringent set of storm water regulations, according to the Union Missourian.

The measure was required under a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now that Union has become a MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer systems) city by reaching the benchmark of 10,000 residents.

The program is an effort to reduce the impact and effects from storm water discharges. The intent of the program is to prevent various chemicals and other pollutants from entering streams and rivers.

Union falls under Phase II of the MS4, which is focused on communities with populations of more than 10,000. Regulated communities are required to develop, implement and enforce a storm water management program designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants through the community’s storm sewer system. The city will be audited after five years to ensure requirements are met.

MS4 Program

There are six “minimum” control measures required under the plan, according to the Union Missourian:

-Public education and outreach;

-Public participation/involvement;

-Illicit discharge detection and elimination;

-Construction site runoff control;

-Post-construction runoff control; and

-Pollution prevention/good housekeeping.

Other Requirements

The MS4 regulations are not the only new requirements now that the city has topped 10,000 residents. There also are changes in how water consumer information is dispersed. Prior to reaching 10,000 residents, it was sufficient to publish the consumer confidence report, or drinking water quality report, in a legal newspaper, as well as publicly post the report. Now the city is required to mail the report to about 4,500 residential and commercial water users. That creates additional printing and mailing costs for the city.

Source: Union Missourian