Stormwater Regulations

Congress enacted the Clean Water Act of 1972 which created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.  The NPDES permit program addresses water pollution by regulating sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States.  The NPDES permit program is authorized to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by the EPA to perform permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the program.

The MPCA is regulating discharges in Minnesota using the MPCA General Permit MNR040000 which gives authorization to discharge stormwater associated with small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) under the NPDES/SDS permit program.  The City of Alexandria is a small MS4 city as designated by the MPCA.  In order to obtain coverage under the General Permit, the City of Alexandria completed an application and developed a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).  The SWPPP addresses regulatory mechanisms, enforcement response procedures, mapping and inventory, and six minimum control measures (MCMs).  The MCMs are as follows:

  1. Public Education and Outreach
  2. Public Participation and Involvement
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
  5. Post-Construction Stormwater Management
  6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

For each MCM, Best Management Practices (BMPs) with associated staff designation, implementation schedule, and measureable goals to determine success were developed to address a method to ultimately reduce/prevent pollution from entering the City of Alexandria’s MS4.

MS4 SWPPP & Annual Reporting

MS4 Part 2 Permit Application as submitted 4-13-2021

Stormwater Management and Erosion & Sediment Control Ordinances

Construction Site Stormwater Permit

Public Education & Outreach

Public education to inform citizens, businesses, and local organizations of the impact stormwater discharges have on water bodies is important.  On this page there is information from regulating agencies as well as ways to help reduce/eliminate pollutants to stormwater to ensure our lakes, streams, and wetlands stay inhabitable and enjoyable.

Public Participation/Involvement

A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) public meeting is held annually.  At this meeting the public may provide their input on the adequacy of the SWPPP.  The annual meeting usually occurs in the fall with the specific date being advertised in the Echo Press.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Please call (320) 763-6678 if you have a concern regarding an illicit discharge or dumping

An illicit discharge is any direct or indirect non-stormwater discharge to the storm drain system.  The storm drain system includes any form of stormwater conveyance such as storm sewers, ditches, streams, wetlands, and lakes.  Examples of illicit discharges include: grass clippings, fertilizer, gas, pet waste, leaves, motor oil, litter, eroded soil, pesticides, grease, or an illegal connection to the storm sewer.  When deposited into nearby waterways, these pollutants can discourage recreational use of the resource, contaminate drinking water supplies, interfere with the habitat of fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife.  Appropriate measures should be taken to prevent this type of pollution.  Call the phone number listed above to report an illicit discharge.

Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control & Post-Construction Stormwater Management

The MS4 permit requires the elimination of pollutants associated with construction activity due to new development or redevelopment on projects with land disturbance of greater than or equal to one-half acre, including projects that are less than one-half acre that are part of a common plan of development or sale.

Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

The MS4 permit requires the prevention or reduction of discharge of pollutants from City owned facilities and operations to the MS4.

 

<- Back to the Stormwater Management Program

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