Storm Water Permit

WPDES Municipal Storm Water Permit

Under the Clean Water Act, Congress mandated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop a program to address urban sources of storm water pollution. This program was named the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The NPDES requirements were then passed on to the states for implementation. Wisconsin created its version of the NPDES Water dropcalled the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) in an effort to meet these requirements. Under the WPDES program, municipalities that discharge pollutants into the storm drain system are required to obtain a storm water discharge permit.

The City of Menasha has obtained its WPDES storm water permit that is issued for a maximum 5-year time frame. It contains monitoring, reporting, and operational requirements that ensure the protection of Wisconsin 's water resources. It regulates storm water runoff, runoff from animal waste, maintenance of the quality of surface water and groundwater resources, and many other aspects.

Coming soon:

  • WDNR Municipal Permit Letter

  • WDNR Municipal Permit

  • City of Menasha Municipal Notice of Intent Application

  • Authorization of Permit Coverage Letter

  • Compliance Schedule

Public Education and Outreach
In order to increase awareness of storm water pollution impacts on waters of the state and encourage changes in public behavior to reduce such impacts, the City of Menasha must implement a public education and outreach program. When a community is informed and knowledgeable about their stormwater program, it can become even more successful. The community will have a better understanding of why management is important and what individual actions they can take to improve local water quality.

The program must include these components:

  • Promote detection and elimination of illicit discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems.

  • Inform and educate the public about the proper management of materials that may cause storm water pollution from sources including automobiles, pet waste, household hazardous waste and household practices.

  • Promote beneficial on site reuse of leaves and grass clippings and proper use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides.

  • Promote management of stream banks and shorelines by riparian landowners to minimize erosion and restore and enhance the ecological value of waterways

  • Promote infiltration of residential storm water runoff from rooftop downspouts, driveways and sidewalks.

  • Inform and where appropriate educate those responsible for the design, installation, and maintenance of construction site erosion control practices and storm water management facilities on how to design, install and maintain the practices.

  • Identify businesses and activities that may pose a storm water contamination concern, and where appropriate, educate specific audiences on methods of storm water pollution prevention.

  • Promote environmentally sensitive land development designs by developers and designers.

Resident Action Page
Storm Drain Stenciling

Public Involvement and Participation
A program must be implemented that notifies the public of different activities aimed at decreasing stormwater pollution. This program must also encourage input and participation regarding these activities. Applicable state and local notice requirements must be met.

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
A program must be developed, implemented and enforced to detect and remove illicit connections and discharges to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).

All of the following must be included:

  • An ordinance or other regulatory mechanism to prevent and eliminate illicit discharges and connections to the MS4. At a minimum, the ordinance or other regulatory mechanism shall:

    • Prohibit the discharge, spilling or dumping of non-storm water substances or materials into waters of the state or the MS4.

    • Identify non-stormwater discharges or flows that are not considered illicit discharges.

    • Establish inspection and enforcement authority.

  • Initial field screening at all major outfalls during dry weather periods.

  • On-going dry weather field screening of outfalls.

  • Procedures for responding to known or suspected illicit discharges.

  • Action to remove illicit discharges from its MS4 system as soon as possible.

Pollution Prevention
A pollution prevention program must be developed and implemented by the City.

The following must be included in the program:

  • Routine inspection and maintenance of municipally owned or operated structural storm water management facilities to maintain their pollutant removal operating efficiency.

  • Routine street sweeping and cleaning of catch basins with sumps.

  • Proper application of road salt or other deicers.

  • Proper management of leaves and grass clippings, which may include on-site beneficial reuse as opposed to collection.

  • Storm water pollution prevention planning for municipal garages, storage areas and other sources of storm water pollution from municipal facilities.

  • Application of lawn and garden fertilizers on municipally controlled properties.

  • Education of appropriate municipal and other personnel involved in implementing this program.

  • Reduce municipal sources of storm water contamination within source water protection areas.

Storm Sewer System Map
The City must develop and maintain a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) map.

The following must be included on the map:

  • Waters of the state, name and classification of receiving water(s), identification of whether the receiving water is an ORW, ERW or listed as an impaired water, storm water drainage basin boundaries for each MS4 outfall and municipal separate storm sewer conveyance systems.

  • Known threatened or endangered resources, historical property and wetlands.

  • Known MS4 outfalls discharging to waters of the state.

  • Location of any known discharge to the MS4 that has been issued WPDES permit coverage by the department.

  • Location of municipally owned or operated structural storm water management facilities.

  • Publicly owned parks, recreational areas and other open lands.

  • Location of municipal garages, storage areas and other public works facilities.

  • Streets

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(Click on map for more information)

Annual Reports
An annual report must be submitted from the City to the DNR. The City must invite the municipal governing body, interest groups and the general public to review and comment on the annual report.

The following must be included in the report:

  • The status of implementing the permit requirements, status of meeting program goals and compliance with permit schedules.

  • A fiscal analysis, which needs to include annual expenditures and budget for the reporting year and the budget for the next year.

  • A summary of the number and nature of inspections and enforcement actions conducted to ensure compliance with the required ordinances.

  • Indicate any known water quality improvements or degradation in the receiving water to which the MS4 discharges.

More Information about:
DNR Municipal Storm Water Management
Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 216