Stormwater Management

NPDES Program 

In response to the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed Phase I of the Stormwater Program in 1990. Phase I of the program requires a NPDES permit coverage for medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) serving populations of 100,000 people or more.

The Stormwater Phase II Final Rule (1999) was the next step taken by the EPA to protect the water resources of the United States from polluted stormwater runoff. Phase II of the NPDES program requires operators of small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) with population less than 100,000 to obtain a NPDES permit and develop a stormwater management program. The goals of the NPDES Phase II program are to reduce the discharge of pollutants, to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. Learn more about the NPDES Phase I and Phase II stormwater guidance on the NC Department of the Environmental Quality website. 

In North Carolina, it is required that a Phase II municipality develops, implements, and enforces the following "Six (6) Minimum Measures" to stay in compliance:

1. Public education and outreach

2. Public participation/involvement

3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination

4. Construction site stormwater runoff control

5. Post-construction runoff control

6. Pollution prevention/good housekeeping

What is an NPDES permit?

The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements,  and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. Click here to learn more about the NPDES Permit.

Other Resources to Explore:

EPA Stormwater Program

NC DEQ Stormwater Program 

WNC Stormwater Partnership 

Haywood Waterways Association- Public Education and Engagement 

Key Stormwater Definitions 

Why is stormwater run-off an issue? 

Best Management Practices (BMP's) 

Waynesville Stormwater Ordinances 

Free NCDEQ Stormwater Webinars- great educational resource for general public, developers, property owners, municipal staff, and educators.

Annual Self-Assessment

The NCDEQ requires all MS4s to submit annual self-assessment reports that evaluate the implementation of the stormwater program. A copy of FY2020-2021 self-assessment report for the Town of Waynesville can be found here. 

What is an MS4?

The Town of Waynesville Stormwater Management Plan identifies specific elements of implementation and enforcement of the IDDE Program by the Town in accordance with the 40 CFR §122.34(b)(3). The purpose of the Town's IDDE Program is to prohibit, detect, and eliminate illicit connections, discharging, illegal dumping, and spills into the MS4. The program also focuses on staff training and public awareness of illicit discharges, improper disposal of waste, and reporting procedures. 

Town of Waynesville Outfall Map

What is the Difference between Stormwater Systems and Sanitary Sewer Systems?

• Water that flows to the stormwater system through curb inlets on the streets (or other structures) usually goes directly into the creek, stream, or river. This water does not get treated at the plant. Stormwater systems are also called storm sewer systems.
• Water that goes to the sanitary sewer system through toilet flushing, shower drains, etc., is treated at the wastewater treatment plant to achieve certain quality before it gets discharged into a creek or stream. 

What is an Illicit Discharge?

The EPA defines an illicit discharge as “...any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater...” with some exceptions, such as discharges from NPDES-permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities.

Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge these non-stormwater wastes. They result in untreated flows to the stormwater system and significantly degrade water quality, disrupt aquatic habitats, and pose serious risks to human health and wildlife. Pollutants commonly found in illicit discharges include:

• Heavy metals
• Toxins
• Grease and oil
• Paint
• Solvents
• Nutrients
• Raw sewage (viruses and bacteria). 

Follow this link to the EPA resource to learn more about illicit discharge detection and elimination measures. 

The Town of Waynesville  Illicit Discharge Ordinance  specifically prohibits illicit discharges to the storm sewer system. However, some non-stormwater discharges are allowed if they do not significantly impact water quality. These discharges include:

• Residential vehicle washing
• Filter backwash and draining associated with swimming pools
• Discharges from fire-fighting activities
• Uncontaminated ground water
• Irrigation water
• Street wash water
• Condensate from residential or commercial air conditioning
• Collected stormwater from foundation or footing drains
• Discharges from pumping or draining of natural watercourses

Report an Illicit Discharge

Only rain goes into a storm drain! Call (828) 456-8647 (Development Services Department) or email: eteague@waynesvillenc.gov to report illegal dumping into streams or storm drains.

Additional Resources

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Guidance Manual by the Center for Watershed Protection

The Town of Waynesville Stormwater Ordinance requires that Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) be inspected annually to continue their function in controlling stormwater runoffs to the extent they were originally designed. An inspection can be performed by a qualified service provider, such as a North Carolina professional engineer, landscape architect, or a person certified by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service for stormwater inspection and maintenance. 

Relevant Forms and Documents:

NC DEQ Stormwater Design Manual

SCM Operations and Maintenance Agreements

Most Common Stormwater Control Measures

The Cover Sheet below needs to be submitted along with one inspection form for each SCM on the site:

Post-Construction Inspection Cover Sheet

Bioretention Cell 

Dry Detention Basin/Dry Pond

Filter Strip/Level Spreader

Grassed Swale

Infiltration Basin

Infiltration Trench

Permeable Pavement

Proprietary Devices (StormFilter)

Rainwater Harvesting

Sand Filter

Underground Detention

Wetland

Wet Detention Basin/Wet Pond

The Town of Waynesville Stormwater Management Plan provides a comprehensive pollution prevention and good housekeeping strategy for the Town's municipal facilities and operations. Pollution prevention and good housekeeping is accomplished through the implementation of programs that collectively address the ultimate goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations, such as parks and open space maintenance, fleet and building maintenance, new construction and land disturbances, and municipal storm sewer system maintenance.

Municipal SCM Operations and Maintenance Program manages municipally-owned, operated, and/or maintained stormwater control measures (SCMs). The Town maintains a current inventory of its SCMs, performs SCMs inspections and maintenance, and documents the records.