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OEHS Directory

Storm Water Management

No Dumping PlacardThe University of New Hampshire (UNH) has developed a Storm Water Management Plan, Storm Water Manangement Pamphlet and a Storm Water Sewer System Map to help prevent potential contamination of stormwater runoff. [Storm water runoff is defined as rain, snow melt, or other sources of precipitation that does not infiltrate into the soil and runs off the land. Storm water management practices are used to delay, capture, store, treat, or infiltrate stormwater runoff.]

The UNH Storm Water Management Program comprises six elements [called Minimum Control Measures or MCMs] that, when implemented in concert over the next five years, are expected to result in significant reductions of non-point pollutants discharged into Great Bay. These six elements include:

  • Public Education and Outreach
  • Public Participation / Involvement
  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • Construction Site Runoff Control
  • Post-Construction Runoff Control
  • Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

UNH and the New Hampshire Seacoast Storm Water Coalition have written Guidelines and Standard Operation Procedures for Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping. This document can be found on the State of New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services website at http://www.des.state.nh.us/Stormwater/NH_IDDE_SOP.pdf and on the UNH website at http://www.unh.edu/ehs/stormwater/NH_IDDE_SOP.pdf.

UNH has also created a Volunteer Storm Water Committee (VSWC) to address ways to implement the Storm Water Management Plan and consider the impact of storm water on the campus.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation entitled, "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - Regulations for Revision of the Water Pollution Control Program Addressing Storm Water Discharges," on December 8, 1999 to address storm water runoff concerns in the United States.

Storm water runoff from lands modified by human activities can harm surface water and, in turn, change natural hydrologic patterns, accelerate natural stream flows, destroy aquatic habitat, and elevate pollutant concentrations. Such runoff may contain high levels of contaminants, such as sediment, suspended solids, nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), heavy metals, pathogens, toxins, oxygen-demanding substances (organic material), and floating material.

UNH activities with the potential to impact the storm water system include:

  • General maintenance of buildings, grounds, and roads;
  • Seasonal application of sand, salt, and de-icer to roads, parking lots, and sidewalks;
  • Seasonal application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to landscaped areas;
  • Small construction projects; and,
  • Spills and leaks.

Questions about private well testing in New Hampshire can be found in the EPA/NHDES brochure, "Protect Your Family - Test Your Well's Water Quality Today."

 EPA/UNH Publications:

OTHER LINKS/RESOURCES:

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