Stormwater Management

Human activity is largely responsible for stormwater pollution. Everything that we put on the ground or into the storm drain can end up in our water. Each of us has a responsibility to make sure these contaminants stay out of our water. Whether we have clean water is up to you.

The official definition of stormwater under the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) regulations at N.J.A.C. 7:14A is as follows:

‘Stormwater’ means water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow) that runs off the land’s surface, is transmitted to the subsurface, or is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewage or drainage facilities, or conveyed by snow removal equipment.

Various entities in New Jersey must comply with the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations under NJAC 7:14.

Counties are required to have a Highway Complex Permit where Municipalities are required to have MS4 permits, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permits. Additionally, Hudson County has a Public Complex Permit for the Meadowview Campus in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Public Complex Permits are required to authorize the stormwater discharge for colleges, universities, prisons, hospitals, certain types of developments and public facilities that have at least 1000 employees for six hours per day on weekdays.