Storm Water Management
The ultimate goal of the WPDES Storm Water Program is to prevent the transportation of pollutants to Wisconsin's water resources via stormwater runoff.
According to EPA’s National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report, prepared under Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act, urban storm water runoff and discharges from storm sewers are a primary cause of impaired water quality in the United States. These sources contribute to 13 percent of impaired rivers and streams, 18 percent of impaired lakes, 55 percent of impaired ocean shorelines, and 32 percent of impaired estuaries.
Storm water runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality. In addition to sediment, as storm water flows over a construction site, it can pick up other pollutants like debris, pesticides, petroleum products, chemicals, solvents, asphalts and acids which also contribute to water quality problems. Quoted from
2004 Compliance and Enforcement National Priority: Clean Water Act, Wet Weather, Storm Water [exit DNR]
To meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, the Wisconsin DNR developed the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) Storm Water Discharge Permit Program which is regulated under the authority of ch. NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR]. As part of the EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the WPDES Storm Water Program regulates discharge of storm water in Wisconsin from construction sites, industrial facilities, and selected municipalities.
- NR 216 with EPA's Phase II Storm Water Revisions
- Construction Storm Water Permits & Forms
- Construction Site Notices of Intent - real-time data
- Storm Water Technical Standards
- Industrial Storm Water Permits & Forms
- Municipal Storm Water Information
- Storm Water Permit Data - summary and detailed permittee information.
The University of Wisconsin Extension [exit DNR] and EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds [exit DNR] have additional information available about storm water management from the scale of a residential rain garden through construction site erosion control plans for multi-acre construction sites.
Stormwater Management Performance Standards
- NR 151 - Non-agricultural performance standards, transportation facility performance standards and a process for the development and dissemination of non-agricultural technical standards.
- NR 152 - Model Ordinances for Construction Site Erosion Control and Storm Water Management.
- Best Management Practices - Photo Essay
EPA Links to Help Storm Water Program Managers
EPA's resource list for storm water program [PDF 95 KB] - Resources to help stormwater program managers start developing or improve their stormwater programs. This list is divided into six sections: general stormwater information, public education and outreach, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction site runoff control, and pollution prevention/good housekeeping.Contact Information
For more information about this page, please contact: Jim Bertolacini608-264-8971
Last Revised: Friday October 02 2009
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