Our Government > Departments > Public Works/Highways > Stormwater
Stormwater Management
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a program for the control of storm water discharges entering to the ground waters and surface waters of the United States; this program is known as the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System or SPDES.
The Town of North Hempstead is required to comply with the Phase II SPDES General Permit for discharges from small municipal seperate storm sewer systems, which is known as the MS4 Storm Water Discharge permit. In simpler terms, in order to operate the storm water drainage system we must make every effort to reduce and control the amount and type of pollutants which end up discharging into our waterways.
Stormwater runoff is the excess rain or melted snow that cannot be absorbed by the soil and flows off our roofs, across our properties, parking lots, and streets. It becomes non-point source pollution when it picks up contaminants along the way such as litter, fertilizer, and car oils, and enters a storm drain system where it is transported to a waterbody. Stormwater runoff has been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a major contributor of pollution to our watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands, and is also a concern for flooding.
Storm drains are the grate openings you see along curbs, streets and parking lots. Their purpose is to collect stormwater runoff and direct it through a conveyance system to a discharge point such as a stream or creek. A sanitary sewer, on the other hand, takes household waste water from toilets, sinks and showers and transports it to a wastewater treatment facility where the water is treated thoroughly before it is released.
The Town has developed a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) which includes both local laws contained in the Town code as well as other steps to reduce pollutants in our daily operations. This may drastically reduce the amount of pollutants which enter into our storm drains and ultimately the creeks, streams and coastal waterways.
The Draft of the Town 2023 Storm Water Management Program Annual Report (SWMPAR) is now available for public review on the Town’s website (www.northhempstead.com) and at the Department of Public Works. The Town Storm Water Management Program Plan Documents are also available for public review at the Department of Public Works. Comments and questions on the Town Storm Water Management Program can be submitted to the Department of Public Works, 285 Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 or at (516)739-6710.
Draft of the Town 2023 Storm Water Management Program Annual Report
" PREVENTING ILLICIT DISCHARGES - Keeping pollutants out of the storm sewer system " as the link just before the text " There are other ways that everyone can help in this effort "
There are other ways that everyone can help in this effort. Through information available on the following links you can find simple steps you can take to help reduce waste and prevent illicit discharges.
Nassau County Stormwater Management
http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/DPW/stormwater.html
Manhasset Bay Protection Committee
http://www.manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org/
Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee
http://hempsteadharbor.org/
NY State Department of Environmantal Conservation Stormwater Information
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8468.html
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/stormwater-management