What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through sloped lawns while picking up a variety of materials on its way. The quality of runoff is affected by a variety of factors and depends on the season, local meteorology, geography and upon activities which lie in the path of the flow.

What is the problem with Stormwater?

As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports pollutants to surface waters. Although the amount of pollutants from a single residential, commercial, industrial or construction site may seem unimportant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, rivers, wetlands and other water bodies. Pollution conveyed by stormwater degrades the quality of drinking water, damages fisheries and habitat of plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival. Pollutants carried by stormwater can also affect recreational uses of water bodies by making them unsafe for wading, swimming, boating and fishing. According to an inventory conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), half of the impaired waterways are affected by urban/suburban and construction sources of stormwater runoff.

What can be done with Stormwater?

Significant improvements have been achieved in controlling pollutants that are discharged from sewage and wastewater treatment plants. Across the nation, attention is being shifted to sources of pollution, such as stormwater runoff, that are not normally treated by wastewater treatment plants. Stormwater management, especially in urban areas, is becoming a necessary step in seeking further reductions in pollution in our waterways.

The best way to control contamination to stormwater is usually at the source, where the contaminants can be identified, reduced or contained before being conveyed to surface water. More often than not, it's more expensive and difficult to remove the combination of contaminants that are present at the end-of-pipe where stormwater is finally discharged directly to a receiving waterbody. Sometimes, significant improvements can be made by employing best management practices, or "BMPs". Proper storage of chemicals, good housekeeping and just plain paying attention to what's happening during runoff events can lead to relatively inexpensive ways of preventing pollutants from getting into the runoff in the first place and then our waterways.

Additional information can be found on the Broome-Tioga Stormwater Coalition Website.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

As the owner/operator of a system of conveyances (curbs, ditches, catchbasins, manholes, and pipes) intended to collect stormwater and direct it to outfall locations for release into local waterways the City of Binghamton is designated as a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), and has been required to obtain coverage under the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, GP-0-10-002. As per requirements in the general permit, the City has developed a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) plan, incorporating minimum control measures designed to help the City maintain and improve the quality of the stormwater that is discharged from its conveyance system. One of the minimum control measures in the SWMP focuses on the detection and elimination of illicit discharges to the storm sewer system.

What is an “Illicit Discharge”?

The term “illicit discharge” is defined in the EPA’s Phase II stormwater regulations as “any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) that is not comprised entirely of stormwater, except discharges pursuant to an NPDES permit and discharges resulting from fire fighting activities”. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes. Common sources of illicit discharges include, but are not limited to: Sanitary wastewater; Effluent from septic tanks; Sediment from construction sites; Car wash wastewaters; Improper oil disposal; Laundry wastewaters; Improper disposal of automobile and household toxics; Yard waste; Pet waste; and Shop floor drains that are connected to the storm sewer.

Why are Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Efforts Important?

Discharges from MS4s often include wastes and wastewater from non-stormwater sources. In fact, studies have shown that up to one half of the water discharged from some MS4s was not attributable to precipitation runoff. The result is untreated stormwater discharges that contribute high levels of pollutants, including heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, viruses and bacteria to receiving water bodies. Pollutant levels from these illicit discharges have been shown in EPA studies to be high enough to significantly degrade receiving water quality and threaten aquatic, wildlife, and human health. In order to protect wildlife habitat and public health, the City of Binghamton has enacted a local law entitled Chapter 227.A, Prohibition of Illicit Discharges, Activities and Connections to Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The local law establishes civil and criminal penalties for anyone found to be in violation of its provisions by discharging non-stormwater wastes or illicitly connecting to the storm sewer system.

What can I do?

Residents and homeowners can seriously impact the quality of the stormwater discharged from a storm sewer system. Community awareness that what gets washed off of our lawns and streets ends up in our storm sewers and eventually our streams and rivers, can help people make better decisions when it comes to the proper disposal of waste materials. With proper storage and disposal practices, the presence of constituents such as trash, household hazardous waste, pet waste, and yard waste can be greatly reduced in our stormwater discharges. Likewise, stormwater running off of development/construction sites should be clear and clean, not laden with sediment or other contaminants. To report the instance of an illicit discharge, please use the link on this stormwater webpage to contact the Stormwater Public Contact.

If you see illicit discharge, please contact us at engineering@cityofbinghamton.gov or call (607) 772-7007.

Please let us know the location of the spill or incident, the time/date observed, and the property owner (if known).

Regulatory Requirements

The U.S.EPA and NYSDEC are increasing their attention in several ways. There are three State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) general permits required for activities associated stormwater discharges.

Multi-Sector General Permit

The Multi- Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities (MSGP) addresses stormwater runoff from certain industrial activities. This permit requires facilities to develop Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and report the results of industry-specific monitoring to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) on an annual basis.

Stormwater MS4 Permit

A federal regulation, commonly known as Stormwater Phase II, requires permits for stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas. Permittees are required to develop Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and submit annual reports to the Department. The City of Binghamton is considered to be an MS4.

Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity

Construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil must be authorized under the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. Permittees are required to develop a SWPPP to prevent discharges of construction-related pollutants to surface waters. 

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is an approach to wet weather management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green Infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies.

At the largest scale, the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features (such as forests, floodplains and wetlands) are critical components of green stormwater infrastructure. By protecting these ecologically sensitive areas, communities can improve water quality while providing wildlife habitat and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

On a smaller scale, green infrastructure practices include bioswales, green roofs, bioretention ponds/rain gardens, infiltration planters, trees and tree boxes, pervious pavement and rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

In December of 2011, City Council adopted amendments to the Erosion Control Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance to improve the aesthetic and environmental quality of Binghamton through storm water management, green infrastructure, and landscaping requirements. The amendments, which implement the recommendations of the City’s Commission on Sustainable Development, will require development projects to include green infrastructure techniques and enhanced landscaping designed to reduce the impacts of minor flooding events, reduce the burden on the sewage treatment facility, contribute to improved water quality of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, reduce the urban heat island effect and improve the quality of life and property values of Binghamton.