The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), has achieved significant reductions in pollutant discharges since it was established by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972.

"Twenty-five years ago, only a third of the nation's waters were safe for fishing and swimming. Wetland losses were estimated at four hundred and sixty thousand acres annually. Agricultural runoff resulted in the erosion of two and a quarter billion tons of soil and the deposit of large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen into many waters."¹

According to the Office of Wastewater Management - Water Permitting, "Over the last 25 years, the quality of rivers, lakes and bays has improved dramatically as a result of the cooperative efforts by federal, state, tribal and local governments and communities to implement the public health and pollution control programs. Today, two-thirds of the nation's surveyed waters are safe for fishing and swimming. Wetland losses are estimated at seventy to ninety thousand acres annually. The amount of soil lost due to agricultural run-off has been reduced by one billion tons annually."

What does this have to do with us, here in Flagstaff? We are required to comply with the NPDES Phase II program requirements for reducing pollution in our waterways. Polluted stormwater runoff is often transported to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4's) and can be discharged into local drainages without treatment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stormwater Phase II rule establishes an MS4's Stormwater Management Program that is intended to improve the Nation's waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants that stormwater picks up and carries into storm sewer systems during storm events.

¹ Source United States Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Wastewater Management Water Permitting - 101

NPDES Summary

Implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II MS4 program requires the development and implementation of six minimum control measures, or Best Management Practices (BMP's). Along with these BMP's are measurable goals designed to evaluate the effective removal of pollutants. These BMP's and goals are defined in our Stormwater Management Plan, which is available through this site.

The six minimum control measures are:

1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Participation/Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Runoff Control
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

The City of Flagstaff filed a Notice of Intent to Comply with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) five-year permit , to implement these six minimum control measures. At least one new ordinance will be introduced as a result. Public participation and involvement will be requested throughout the implementation process. At the end of the first five-year permit we will be subject to renewal by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

The ordinance that will be drafted will be to prohibit illicit discharges and illegal dumping into the City of Flagstaff stormwater system. City Council and staff will hold public meetings and a public hearing for input into the ordinance in the Spring of 2007.

Project Manager: Eileen Hamlin, 779-7685 X 7484 e-mail ehamlin@flagstaffaz.gov