Weymouth Storm Water Management Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Program to minimize the discharge of contaminates into surface waters. The Separate Storm Sewer is a system of underground pipes and surface drainage that carry rainwater and snowmelt away from roads and parking lots. Ultimately this drainage reaches our lakes and rivers.
Common pollutants include the following:
automotive fluids that leak from our vehicles onto roads, parking lots and driveways,
pesticides used to keep lawns green,
sediments from construction sites;
household trash and chemicals not properly disposed of
animal waste.
After the Storm: a new half hour Weather Channel television special about watersheds
EPA's After the Storm Web Site
EPA's Announcement
Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff
EPA and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In," that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden's "One Planet - Ours!" Exhibit" and at the EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.
To watch the video: http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid
Residents of Weymouth can have an enormous impact on the quality of rivers and streams by:
keeping vehicles maintained,
closely following application rates for pesticides and fertilizers,
properly disposing of household wastes and recyclables
watching for unusual discharges from storm drainage swales and piping during dry weather conditions.
The Weymouth Department of Public Works operates the following programs to assist residents when disposing of these materials:
weekly collection of household trash, recyclables are collected every other week
annual household hazardous waste collection day (normally held in October and April) for the disposal of unwanted pesticides, paints and chemicals. April 8th and October 21st for 2006.
Used oil, tires, automotive batteries, antifreeze, paint, mercury thermometers, televisions set, computer monitors, antifreeze and battery disposal programs that are open to residents during Dept. of Public Works hours of operation
Pick up bulk items for a fee, IE. air conditioners, refrigerators, stoves, water heaters.
Weymouth residents are allowed to unload septage from their RV's at the Dept. of Public Works
Please contact Public Works for more information regarding any of the programs listed above.
Report Storm Water Related Problems/Issues:
Click here to use the DPW Service Request form to report storm water related problems/issues.
Check out the following websites and documents for more information regarding storm water pollution prevention:http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/dosdont.html
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts/
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts/point10.htm
http://www.mass.gov/dep/brp/stormwtr/
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/river/
Things to Keep in Mind if you Have a Septic System or Sanitary Sewer System
10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Stormwater Runoff Pollution
What is Stormwater Runoff? Why is it a Problem?
Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff
Educational Web Sites:
Columbian
Square Rotary
