▼

PW - Storm Water Management Division

Show All Answers

1. What is the purpose of stormwater management?

In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act, the City of Santa Fe must obtain federal authorization to discharge pollutants to waters of the United States via our storm sewer system. In order to qualify for the NPDES permits necessary to do so, we must implement a plan to reduce and control the pollutants that are carried into these waters. The Stormwater Management Division is responsible for implementation of the City of Santa Fe Stormwater Management Plan and for enforcement of city and state ordinances and regulations relative to stormwater pollution and management.

2. What is expected of contractors regarding construction site erosion and sediment runoff control and what is the city’s enforcement role?

Through the use of approved Best Management Practices (BMP), contractors are expected to control erosion and sediment transfer at a construction site and not allow these and other construction-related pollutants to enter the stormwater system.

The contractor is obligated to apply for coverage under the State of New Mexico Construction General Permit via the United States EPA if land disturbance is greater than or equal to one acre. The City’s role is to assure compliance with these and other local requirements.

3. What is a SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan)?

An SWPPP is a plan prepared by a qualified professional that spells out the BMPs that are to be used on a site to control storm water pollutants on-site.

4. What are BMPs?

BMPs (Best Management Practices) are practices developed by the EPA. They are used to implement minimum control measures aimed at reducing stormwater pollution. BMPs can be structural such as site silt fences or filtering systems or they can be non-structural such as educational programs and public service announcements.

5. What is NPDES?

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program is a component of the Clean Water Act developed by the EPA for the regulation of the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. Industrial, municipal and other facilities and anyone (excluding individual homes that are connected to a municipal system) who wants to discharge pollutants to waters of the United States must first obtain an NPDES permit.

6. What is an NOI?

A Notice of Intent (NOI) is an application that must be filed with the EPA in order to obtain coverage under an NPDES permit.