Under the auspices of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, area communities that share a common watershed formed the Stormwater Coalition to address rules in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act.

Amendments to the act that were approved in 1972 prohibit the discharge of any pollutant from a point source – generally defined as wastewater discharged from industrial facilities and municipal sewage treatment plants into rivers and lakes – unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

In 1987, Congress expanded the Clean Water Act to require a two-phase implementation of a program to address storm water discharges. Phase I covers NPDES permits for medium and large separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and construction sites disturbing five acres or more. Phase 2 requires permits for storm water discharges from certain small municipal separate storm sewer systems and construction areas between one and five acres.

One requirement for all storm water permit holders, says Lynette Hablitzel, a storm water specialist at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, is to have a storm water management plan that covers public education and involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff and post construction runoff, and pollution prevention for municipal operations.

One educational outreach effort by the Stormwater Coalition, Give Water a Hand, included a residential campaign to inform households how to reduce water use and protect water resources. A second effort targeted small businesses such as gas stations, home renovation companies, restaurants, and others.

And a stormwater management standards manual was revised in 2006 to include language describing riparian setbacks and conservation development, according to TMACOG’s Mary Pat McCarthy, who notes local regulations have not been consistent between jurisdictions, which can be confusing for builders.

She said coalition members have been working with developers, city engineers, and others to reach agreement on how much land should be left covered with vegetation around ditches, streams, and rivers in Lucas County and northern Wood County.

“The focus before was on the quantity of stormwater,” said Andrea Beard, an engineer with the City of Oregon. “Now we’re also looking at the quality.”

Local entities covered NPDES stormwater permits include Toledo, Lucas County, Jerusalem Township, Oregon, Ottawa County, Allen Township, Clay Township, Wood County, Lake Township, Millbury, Northwood, and Walbridge. Toledo is considered a medium MS4, regulated under Phase 1; the others are small MS4s and regulated under Phase 2.

Communities are required to have their management plans operating by next month.

Dina Pierce, a spokesperson for the Ohio EPA, said the agency has been conducting workshops to assist them in complying with the regulations.

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