Storm Water Program
Our Storm Water Program’s focus is to monitor and improve water quality in Stark County. Stark County Storm Water Quality Regulations and the Ohio EPA NPDES Phase II permit, any earthmoving operation disturbing one acre or more is required to submit plans for review and approval. This process is referred to as a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) outlines the erosion and sediment control practices that will be installed and maintained during all phases of construction. The SWPPP process works to reduce sediment from depositing in streams, ditches, creeks, and existing storm drains.
Erosion and sediment control measures are called Best Management Practices (BMP’s), and when installed and maintained correctly, they help prevent soil from leaving the site.
The District’s Storm Water Program Manager and District Technicians work diligently to review plans and perform site inspections to ensure that these erosion and sediment control measures are in place.
The District is committed to helping achieve a balance between development and nature; therefore, preserving the integrity of Stark County’s natural resources.
What is Storm Water?
Storm water is defined as the flow of water that results from precipitation which occurs immediately following a rainfall event or results from a snowmelt.
When a rainfall event occurs, the precipitation is “absorbed” by the environment. The water may soak into the soil recharging groundwater supplies, while some is taken up by plants, and some is evaporated into the atmosphere. All the other water that flows or runs off the land is considered storm water. Unfortunately, as development increases, the ability of our environment to perform its natural process of “absorption” decreases. This is because the natural landscape that was once able to absorb and clean storm water is covered by impervious surface. Impervious surface is simply a surface that water is unable to penetrate. Rooftops, driveways, and roads are all examples of impervious surfaces.
Increased impervious surface results in both an increased amount of storm water runoff and an increased chance for pollution to enter our waterways through our storm sewer systems. This type of pollution that results from storm water runoff is called non point source pollution.