Stormwater Quality

Overview

Stormwater pollution is an increasingly significant national environmental concern and as stated by the EPA is the #1 cause of water pollution in the country. Stormwater pollution occurs when rain or melting snow washes over streets, parking lots, sidewalks, rooftops, etc. and picks up trash, oil, soil, and other contaminants as it flows downstream. These pollutants are then directed into the storm drainage system, which discharges them untreated into our local lakes, streams, and rivers, polluting our local surface waters.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

To help combat this source of pollution, the EPA and CDPHE issue MS4 Permits to local municipalities to monitor and work to improve the condition of stormwater quality within their jurisdictions.

The City of Greeley oversees the storm drainage system within the city limits, which is also referred to as the city’s Multiple Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). The city’s MS4 is designed to convey rainwater and snow melt away from homes and streets, which are connected to downstream lakes, streams, and rivers.

The City of Greeley’s Stormwater Quality Unit is tasked with helping to ensure the water quality in our local lakes, streams, and rivers is protected today and for generations to come! 

Help The City of Greeley “Keep it Clean!”

Whether you're a concerned resident, a mindful business owner, or a responsible developer, you can play a vital role in protecting our surface waters within the City of Greeley! Here are the rules for protecting stormwater quality within the city:

• Only rain down the drain!
• The storm drainage system is designed to convey rainwater to our local lakes, streams, and rivers. Businesses and residents all need to be aware of what is allowed and not allowed into the storm drainage system.
• Call 970-473-6389 or fill out this form to report illegal dumping activity within and to the storm drainage system.
• Ordinances and state regulations establish methods for controlling pollutants entering the storm drainage system.

Click here to view Stormwater Quality resources that can help you improve stormwater quality in your community.

Local Ordinances for Stormwater Quality

Local ordinances are a requirement of the City of Greeley’s Municipal (MS4) Stormwater Discharge Permit issued by the State of Colorado. Those code sections are linked below:

• Title 12, Chapter 3 – Grading and Soil Erosion Control
• Title 20, Chapter 4 – Stormwater Management Program
• Title 20, Chapter 3, Article VII – Stormwater Drainage System

The objective of the ordinance is to:

• Control pollutants to the storm drainage system.
• Prohibit illegal connections and discharges to the storm drainage system.
• Establish legal authority to carry out inspections, surveillance, monitoring and enforcement procedures necessary to ensure compliance with the ordinances.
• Promote public awareness of the hazards of improperly releasing trash, yard waste, lawn chemicals, pet waste, wastewater, grease, oil, petroleum products, cleaning products and paint products, hazardous waste, sediment and other pollutants into the storm drainage system.

General Prohibitions

• No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the storm drainage system or water course any materials other than stormwater.
• The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drainage system is prohibited.
• It shall be unlawful to cause, allow, or place chemicals, pollutants, or like materials in such a manner or location where they may be exposed to stormwater, or enter storm drains, gutters or waters of the state. Materials, chemicals, or pollutants that are not contained are considered to be threatened discharges unless they are actively being cleaned up
• No land disturbance activities greater than one acre in size or as a part of a common development over one acre in size shall be conducted without a Grading Permit issued by the City of Greeley
• No person shall maliciously destroy or interfere with structural controls in place to protect water quality.
• Fines up to $1,000 per day for Ordinance violations may be imposed.

General Exemptions: The following types of discharges could be allowed to the storm drainage system when properly managed:

• Water line flushing or other potable water sources;
• Landscape irrigation or lawn watering;
• Irrigation return flows;
• Diverted stream flows;
• Rising groundwater;
• Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration to storm drain (as defined by 40CFR 35.2005(20));
• Uncontaminated pumped groundwater discharged to land/onsite infiltration;
• Single family residential foundation or footing drains;
• Single family residential crawl space pumps;
• Air conditioning condensation;
• Springs;
• Individual residential car washing;
• Natural riparian or wetland flows;
• Swimming pools (if dechlorinated, less than 0.05 PPM chlorine).