Storm Water Management
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has developed a Storm Water Management Plan, Storm Water Management 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 current EPA MS4 stormwater permit for NH (issued 2003) is scheduled to be replaced with a new 5 year permit. The draft of the proposed new permit can be viewed at: www.epa.gov/NE/npdes/stormwater/MS4_2008_NH.html.
The UNH Storm Water Management Program comprises six elements (called Minimum Control Measures or MCMs. Minimum Control Measures are listed in the reports section of the archives under New Hampshire-University of New Hampshire) 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 des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/stormwater/categories/publications.htm and on the UNH website at www.unh.edu/facilities/images/stormwater/NH_IDDE_SOP.pdf.
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:
- UNH Storm Water Management Fact Sheet
- UNH Storm Water Management Plan
- "Storm Water Runoff, There is No Away" Video Services, University of New Hampshire, Seacoast Storm Water Coalition, ©2003. Requires Apple Quick Time®.
- "Protecting Our Water" UNH and the Seacoast Storm Water Coalition, 2005. Requires Apple Quick Time®.
- After the Storm Brochure [PDF Format] EPA 833-B-03-002
- Door Hanger: "Storm Water Pollution Found in Your Area!" [PDF Format] EPA 833-F-03-002
- Make Your Home the Solution to Storm Water Pollution Brochure [PDF Format] EPA 833-B-03-003
- Placemat: "Take the Storm Water Challenge" [PDF Format] EPA 841-H-03-002
- Storm Water and the Construction Industry Poster - Complete 30x40 Poster [PDF Format] EPA 833-H-03-001
- Water-Efficient Landscaping [PDF Format] - This booklet describes the benefits of water-efficient, low-impact landscaping. It includes examples of successful projects, programs, and contacts. EPA 832-F-02-002
OTHER LINKS/RESOURCES:
- College Brook Ecological Restoration Project
- Low Impact Development Center
- New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP)
- New Hampshire Water Resources Research Center
- NH DES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
- Region 1 EPA - Storm Water
- Sky Juice New England
- UNH Center for Stormwater Technology Evaluation and Verification (CSTEV)
