MS4 Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater Runoff?  

Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt that flows over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground.  

Stormwater runoff can pick up and deposit harmful pollutants like trash, chemicals, and dirt/sediment into streams, lakes, and groundwater. Construction sites, lawns, improperly stored hazardous wastes, and illegal dumping are also potential sources of stormwater pollutants. To protect water resources, communities are required by the MS4 Permit to implement management practices to control stormwater and prevent pollution at its source.  

 

What is the MS4 Permit?  

In compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) authorizes any operator of a small municipal separate storm sewer system to discharge stormwater runoff under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), in accordance with the conditions and requirements set forth under the MS4 General Permit. 

For a more interactive experience, please follow the link below to the Stormwater Management Web Experience, created and maintained by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program. This platform offers a comprehensive overview of the Collaborative's sampling, mapping, and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) investigations. 


Town of Marion’s Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

The Town of Marion owns and operates approximately 18.30 linear feet of storm sewer system, including piping, catch basins, and outfalls. The Town works closely with the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP) and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) to annually inspect and collect data on the storm sewer system. Together, the BBNEP and MMA have created an interactive web-based mapping system of the Town’s storm sewer system. Please access via the link below.