Storm Water Management
Surface water drainage in Brier is greatly influenced by the urbanized nature of our community as well as that of our surrounding communities. All these areas have experienced expansion of impervious areas with increased development. More impervious areas such as streets, parking lots, and building roofs have led to increased runoff to surface streams and lakes. This increased runoff also carries with it pollutants picked up from streets, lawns, and construction sites. Common water quality problems that can occur as a result of surface water runoff include depleted dissolved oxygen levels, increased water temperature and sedimentation. The presence of excess nutrients, fecal matter, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and pesticides are also things that can negatively affect water quality.
The City of Brier has implemented a number of measures to help minimize and reduce the impact of urban runoff pollutants in our surface streams. All new development and redevelopment projects must meet state standards for storm water runoff during the construction portion of the project. Post development runoff must also meet state standards for runoff quantity and quality through the use of detention ponds and vaults, water quality filters and grass lined swale or soil infiltration trenches.
In 1987 the Clean Water Act was amended and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was required to address stormwater pollution in two phases. In 1990, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Phase I was started. This phase applied to large to medium municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) and to 11 separate industrial activities including construction where the land disturbed is greater than 5 acres. In 2003, Phase II, which targets additional MS4's as well construction sites that disturb greater than 1 acre of land but less than 5 acres, was begun. Implementing Phase II of the NPDES is a multi-year process that sets required activities on various dates throughout the process. The City of Brier has received permit coverage under the NPDES Phase 2 permit on February 16, 2007.
Phase II Permit Links:
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