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Stormwater Management

Stafford County Public Schools is designated as a Phase II (small) MS4, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4 Stormwater Permit Program. The school division was issued a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on November 1, 2018 and will expire on October 31, 2023.

General Permit through Oct 2028 and Permit Acceptance Letter

The school systems efforts to control stormwater within urban areas is defined in the MS4 Program Plan.

Under the general permit, small MS4s must develop, implement and enforce a program that includes the following “six minimum control measures":

The permit requirements include allowing the public an opportunity to provide input on the program plan. To submit input and comments, please contact the Stafford County Public Schools Operations and Maintenance Department by emailing Joshua Schimpf or calling 540-654-9000.

  • Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts
  • Public involvement and participation
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination
  • Construction site stormwater runoff control
  • Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
  • Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MS4?

MS4 is short for municipal separate storm sewer system. The MS4 Permit Program is a program that ensures school-owned and operated storm sewer systems meet state water control board and United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. The permit allows municipalities to discharge stormwater to state waterways. MS4 permits are a type of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

Stormwater Management controls runoff by sending it through the storm drainage system and then to ponds/lakes and streams/rivers. Stormwater Management is incorporated into the design of school construction projects and the operations of existing campuses to mitigate any impacts the projects and our campuses may have on the aquatic environment. Best management practices address two major issues, the quantity or volume of stormwater and the quality of the stormwater. In the end, responsible and sound stormwater management practices minimize flooding and reduce the amount of pollution that reaches the Chesapeake Bay.

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is rainwater or melting snow that washes through our property and streets, taking with it any debris that may be in its path. This mixture of rain, debris, oil and waste is known as runoff. In areas with buildings, roads and parking lots, the water or runoff flows over these surfaces into storm drains. Storm drains lead to streams, streams to rivers and rivers to the Chesapeake Bay. Stormwater does not to lead to a wastewater treatment facility. Anything that goes down a storm drain goes directly to the nearest stream.

Erosion and Sediment Control

Construction activity is one of the major causes of sediment entering the waterways. The disturbance of land is a major contributor to the increased erosion due to base soil areas, increased water volume and changes to the topography which impacts drainage systems, ground stability and vegetation.

Erosion and Sediment Control measures are required by local, state and federal regulations in order to minimize the impact of erosion and sediment. These provide management strategies to control erosion and sediment include things such as silt fences, sediment basins and water diversion techniques. If erosion is managed, sediment will need less control.

All construction projects are reviewed, approved and inspected by the local Environmental Division of the Department of Public Works.

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