By Jill Sunderland, Senior Water Resources Planner & Sara Kidd, Senior Regional Planner
When it rains, water flows over streets, sidewalks, driveways, and rooftops, picking up pollutants like litter, oil, fertilizer, and sediment. This runoff is not treated. Instead, in Hampton Roads, the runoff ends up in our local waterways and eventually the Chesapeake Bay or the Southern Rivers. That’s why managing stormwater is important for the health of our environment and communities.
Local governments across the region are working hard to minimize stormwater pollution and protect our waterways. They follow state laws and regulations and use a variety of tools and best practices to manage runoff. The localities are required to follow certain programs, depending on several factors. This month’s map depicts which stormwater programs apply to each of the localities in Hampton Roads.
Here are a few key programs in place in Hampton Roads:
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permits
These permits require cities and counties to reduce pollution from stormwater systems. Larger cities have individual Phase I permits, while many smaller urban areas follow the Phase II General Permits. In Hampton Roads, eleven localities have MS4 permits in place. - Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (Bay Act)
This law helps promote responsible land use and development, particularly along our shorelines. Local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed enforce these rules to keep pollutants out of our waterways. - Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP)
Under this program, localities require construction sites to install erosion and sediment controls and implement practices to reduce the discharge of pollutants after construction is complete. - Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP)
Similar to VESMP, this program requires localities to ensure construction projects have erosion and sediment controls in place. However, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) handles the stormwater management portion after construction ends.
Most localities follow more than one program. Explore the map below to discover which programs apply in each locality.
Want to learn more? Contact Jill Sunderland at jsunderland@hrpdcva.gov