20260916-002, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System — original pdf

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MS4 Permit Update Environmental Commission | September 16, 2026 From The Top ▪ MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System ▪ Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit that allows Austin to convey stormwater and discharge to waterways ▪ Prohibit non-stormwater discharges ▪ Reduce pollutants to the Maximum Extent Practicable ▪ Originates from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program as part of the Clean Water Act ▪ 1990 – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues NPDES Stormwater Phase I rule ▪ 1992 - City of Austin applies for EPA MS4 permit ▪ 1998 - EPA authorizes Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to develop and implement TPDES program ▪ 2006 - TCEQ issues Phase I MS4 permit to COA 2 MS4 Permit ▪ Tells the City what needs to be done ▪ Broken up into 8 Minimum Control Measures ▪ Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements are now included in MS4 permits ▪ Five-year permit cycle ▪ Annual reporting ▪ Periodic TCEQ audits 3 Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) ▪ SWMP informs TCEQ how COA will fulfill permit requirements ▪ Collection of best management practices and quantified targets ▪ Over 100 targets across various City of Austin departments ▪ Targets include activities staff has control over 4 Who’s Involved? Section of the SWMP MS4 Maintenance Activities Post Construction Stormwater Control Measures Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations Industrial and High Risk Runoff Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Core Contributing Departments WPD, ARR, TPW WPD, DSD, PLAN WPD, AW, ARR, AFD WPD, ARR, TPW, AFD, AUS, FMS, APR, AW WPD, AW, DSD, AFD DSD Public Education, Outreach, Involvement and Participation WPD, ARR, AW Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting WPD Total Maximum Daily Loads WPD- Austin Watershed Protection, ARR – Austin Resource Recovery, TPW – Transportation and Public Works, DSD – Austin Development Services, PLAN – Austin Planning, AW – Austin Water, AFD – Austin Fire, AUS – Austin Bergstrom International Airport, FMS – Fleet Mobility Services, APR – Austin Parks, HSO – Homeless Strategies Office WPD, AW, HSO 5 Current Status ▪ TCEQ audit in July 2026 resulted in General Compliance (no violations) ▪ TCEQ issued a draft permit June 2026 as part of Austin’s permit renewal process ▪ Potential to have new permit by end of the fiscal year ▪ Minimal TCEQ edits/additions compared to the current permit ▪ Once the permit is issued,180 days to submit a “new” SWMP 6 Creating the Stormwater Management Program ▪ No backsliding per Clean Water Act ▪ Identify gaps, areas for improvement and public interests (Rain to River outreach results) ▪ Rightsize and/or modify targets for some existing activities ▪ Coordinate BMPs and targets with work groups across the City ▪ Submit within 180 days of the new permit for TCEQ review Identifying activities and targets that are both attainable and promote healthy watersheds. 7 Public Participation in Creek Health The permit is aimed at City of Austin activities, but public participation is critical to the success of the permit’s intent and improvements in water quality. ▪ Regulations and enforcement ▪ Education and good practices ▪ Reporting water quality issues ▪ Participating in volunteer opportunities! ▪ Keep Austin Beautiful ▪ Adopt or mark a storm drain ▪ Zero Waste Block Leaders ▪ And more! 8 Questions? Jacob Johnson Jacob.johnson@austintexas.gov 512-426-3472 9