We are introducing a new feature on the Village website that will discuss stormwater and related issues for the education and benefit or our residents and business owners. In this way, we will provide information about stormwater and its effect on the environment and what the Village is doing to develop an effective stormwater management program.

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that doesn’t soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. It flows from rooftops, over impervious surfaces such as driveways and roadways, bare soil, and through sloped lawns picking up a variety of contaminants on its way. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports soil, animal waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil and grease, debris and other potential pollutants.

After these contaminants are carried away by stormwater runoff, which is essentially untreated water, they are discharged into the bodies of water that we use for fishing, swimming and drinking water.

Why Should I Care?

Polluted stormwater can contribute to a number of significant water quality concerns including a buildup of an excessive amount of nutrients in the water supply and the development of bacteria and other pathogens

What Can Be Done?

In 2003, Congress amended the Federal Clean Water Act to include stormwater discharges form construction sites disturbing more than one acre of land and discharges from publicly owned stormwater conveyance systems in urbanized areas as a regulated activity. Such discharges are unlawful unless authorized through the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit program which is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Village of Menands is an operator of municipal separated storm sewer systems (MS4) and therefore must comply with the appropriate Federal and State regulations dealing with stormwater.

There are twelve MS4 communities in Albany County and in 2008 all of the regulated entities agreed to form the Albany County Stormwater Coalition via an intermunicipal agreement to pool resources so that Coalition members can adequately implement MS4 permit requirements.

The establishment of the Coalition has enabled the Village to meet its obligations under the MS4 Program in an economical and efficient manner. The Coalition provides technical assistance, field surveys of outfalls, and coordination of the Joint Annual Report to NYSDEC.

In future articles, we will be telling you more about the nature of stormwater, how it can be managed and what you should know about preventing stormwater runoff pollution.