Stormwater runoff is water from rain or melting snow that “runs off” across impervious surfaces instead of seeping into the ground. This untreated runoff flows into the nearest storm inlet and is then carried to nearby waterways.
Materials such as pesticides, fertilizers, oil, and soaps are a few typical known pollutants, but soil, pet waste, grass clippings and leaves are also some of the many pollutants to water as well. As rain water or snow melt travels…
This is a phrase used for polluted runoff or other sources of water pollution that are hard to pinpoint the origin of the pollution. The term “nonpoint source pollution” comes from the federal Clean Water Act of 1987. In the…
Polluted stormwater runoff can occur anywhere people are using or altering the land. People going about their daily lives are the number one source of stormwater pollutants, and they are unaware of it. Common examples of people contributing to stormwater…
Polluted stormwater runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in Nebraska. In most cases, stormwater either does not receive any treatment before it enters waterways or if it does receive treatment, it is inadequately treated. As the saying…
Preventing pollution from entering waterways is much more affordable than cleaning polluted water. There are many different ways to keep pollutants out of runoff and to slow down high volumes of runoff by using “best management practices," or BMPs. Educating residents about how…
The federal Clean Water Act requires large and medium sized towns across the United States to take steps to reduce polluted stormwater runoff. The law was applied in two phases: The first phase addressed large cities and the second phase,…
Streams and creeks feed into rivers, lakes and the ocean. Everyone uses and drinks water, so we are all affected when our water is polluted. When water treatment costs increase in order to filter and treat the water, the price…
If you own a car, maintain it, so it does not leak oil or other fluids and if you wash the car at home, be sure to wash it on the grass or at a car wash, so the dirt…
You can help reduce stormwater pollution by participating in the next stream cleanup in your area or by attending storm drain stenciling events – where the end destination of stormwater is clearly marked on the drain, so neighbors and others…
The City of Omaha has a comprehensive program comprised of various program elements and activities designed to reduce stormwater pollution to Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) and eliminate prohibited non-stormwater discharges through a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal stormwater…
Local Regulations Sec. 32-62. Prohibited discharges from industrial and commercial activities. The following list of discharges from industrial and commercial activities shall be considered prohibited unless permitted under a separate NPDES permit or approved by the city public works department.…
Federal Regulations Summary of the Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972) The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for…
State Regulations Title 119 - Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Chapter 2 – Permits, when required. 001 No person shall discharge any pollutant into any waters of the state from a point source without first having obtained a permit from…
A PCSMP is required when a project disturbs an area greater than 5,000 square feet. The exception to this requirement is if the project involves maintenance of a parking area with no change to the hydraulic grade.
If you are submitting a preliminary plat, you can meet the Preliminary Plat requirement by applying for a PCSMP project number in the Permix System. You won't need to submit all the documentation until you are farther along in the design…
Yes, projects that reduce the amount of impervious area will likely meet the no adverse impact requirement, but it doesn't meet the conditions required for water quality treatment.
The recommended removal efficiency is 80% TSS removal. Since the City of Omaha does not have a protocol for mean grain size distribution, size the structure based on the 80% removal curves developed by each manufacturer.
As-built information required for a PCSMP should focus on information associated with the design and function of the BMP. Typical examples include (but aren't limited to) invert elevations and spot elevations to ensure drainage flows in the design direction; elevations…
Yes, if the project disturbs an area that is greater than 5,000 square feet and less than one acre, the owner may request a Hold on the Certificate of Occupancy contingent on providing a complete PCSMP. If the project is…
The nature of activities on industrial and commercial facilities often involves bulk storage of chemicals, fuels, large volume equipment storage, and regular loading and unloading of materials. Due to these activities, there is an increased potential for stormwater to be…
Federal regulations require stormwater discharges associated with specific sectors of industrial activity to be covered under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits (unless otherwise excluded).
The permitting program is intended to identify and eliminate outdoor, exposed pollutants generated by businesses that are affecting, or could affect, the municipal separate storm sewer system and local waters. Keeping pollutants out of the storm drainage system is important…
Industries subject to the stormwater regulations are identified by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. An industry is required to comply with the requirements of the stormwater regulations if at least one of its applicable SIC codes fall under one…
Visit the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) Industrial Stormwater Permit (ISW) page and begin the application process. NDEQ ISW Permit Page During the application process determine whether or not your facility's activities and industrial materials will be exposed to…
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality does not charge an application fee for their Industrial Stormwater Permit or No Exposure Certification.
The permit requires that facilities develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that is designed to eliminate or minimize stormwater contact with materials that may result in polluted stormwater discharges from their site. The SWPPP must incorporate specific…
The SWPPP is a “living” document that is intended to be regularly updated and must be kept on site. The SWPPP consists of a Narrative and Site Maps. The SWPPP must include: Identification of the Pollution Prevention Team Site description…
BMPs are practices or structures designed to reduce the quantities of pollutants that enter the storm sewer system or nearby lakes and creeks. Practices such as employee training, spill prevention and response, and regular inspections are just a few examples…
The City of Omaha will conduct inspections as required by the City’s Municipal Stormwater Permit issued by the State of Nebraska. At the time of the inspection, inspectors will review the storage and usage practices of materials, the site’s SWPPP…
Sources of stormwater pollution that inspectors will typically look for include, but are not limited to, the following: Discharge from commercial vehicle washing, equipment washing, or power washing into the storm drainage system. Evidence that work areas such as oily…
The City of Omaha can pursue enforcement action through the permitting authority specified in the Stormwater Management Ordinance, Chapter 32, of the Omaha Municipal Code. Consideration for enforcement will be dependent on the severity of the identified problems, the length…
Environmental Quality Control Division (EQCD) Stormwater personnel are available to offer assistance with the permitting process, Omaha Municipal Code, or other stormwater related questions. The stormwater hotline is (402) 444-3908. Also see the guidance documents, permits, and other useful links…
Any grading site that is greater than or equal to 5 acres of disturbed ground (note: Disturbed ground means any area that will be and/or is without vegetative cover) will be considered a Phase 1 Grading Permit (GR1) and therefore eligible for…
Stage 1 Site Inspections must be performed as follows: within 24 hours of a storm event equal to or greater than 0.5 inches within 9 days of the last site inspection conducted The Reporting Period ending dates correspond to the…
After a report for any site is submitted, a link should appear to request a stage change. Click the link and select the stage you feel the site should be assigned. A city inspector is notified that a stage change…
Any construction project that will result in the stripping, grading, or other ground disturbing activities over 1 acre in size must apply for a permit. Sites under an acre are still required to control erosion and minimize sediment loss.
The active Construction Sites within the Papillion Creek Watershed are required to have a sign posted at the entrance to their project with contact information. The City of Omaha will also investigate complaints. You can file a complaint online or…
Construction sites are required to keep the entrances to their project maintained. If track out occurs they are required to clean the streets. Most sites scrape the streets clean at the end of the day or throughout the day in…
Dust is an occurrence that will happen on most sites. During heavy grading, the contractors are required to maintain their entrances and haul roads. A reasonable effort must be made to control the dust from leaving the construction site. Areas…
No and yes. If your site isn’t part of a larger common plan of development greater than one acre you do not need to obtain a grading permit. You do however need to manage your site as needed to minimize…
Yes. When you obtain a grading permit, the requirements do not change during the year. You may not have to worry about as many rain events as you would in the Spring, but snow-melt, track-out from muddy sites, good housekeeping…