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Storm Water Division
Purpose
In September 2016, the Missoula City Council voted to create a storm water utility so that the City can address stricter state and federal storm water regulations meant to ensure our rivers and ground water stay clean. These requirements include providing a funding source and staff dedicated solely to managing storm water.Storm Water Division Duties
As appropriate, we coordinate with other agencies, partnerships, and citizen input, to perform:
- constructing, upgrading, and maintaining storm water facilities;
- educating the public on storm water pollution prevention;
- screening and sampling storm water for illicit discharges and pollution levels;
- reporting testing results and other required activities to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality; and
- coordinating response to storm water flooding situations.
PLEASE PICK UP AFTER YOUR PETS
A day's waste from one large dog can contain 7.8 billion fecal coliform bacteria.
OUR FOOTPRINT INCLUDES OUR PETS' PAW PRINTS
What is storm water, why is it a problem, and how to report illicit discharge
Illicit discharge is defined as any discharge not comprised entirely of rainfall or snowmelt. Storm water runoff is water from rain and melting snow that flows over land and impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops and does not soak into the ground. Storm water inlets go directly into our rivers, creeks, and lakes, and is not pretreated nor tied to sanitary sewer systems. As a result, storm water runoff picks up illicit discharge such as trash, chemicals, fuels, oil, antifreeze spills, dirt and sediment that can pollute our river, creek and lake waters!
In the event of a serious hazard to life, property or environment, call 911. If you see or suspect a pollutant going into a storm drain that you feel could impact our storm water system, you can either call or use the online form.
Working Together
For the past 10 years, the City has partnered with the Missoula Valley Water Quality District to enforce water quality laws, monitor groundwater cleanup sites, oversee household hazardous waste collection, and more. The community’s unique Missoula Water Quality Ordinance provides strong protection of Missoula's waterway through the regulation of discharges, such as dry cleaner solvents, as well as the use of street deicers. This partnership continues following the creation of the Storm Water Division because both entities have similar goals but different tasks.
The Storm Water Utility Division also works with educational partners such as Montana Natural History Center and the Watershed Education Network. We are working together to cultivate and develop our future generations as stewards of Missoula's greatest treasures, our water.
Preliminary Rates
The City developed a temporary rate schedule for the storm water utility, but an in-depth rate study is expected to begin in the summer of 2017. This study will be used to establish a new rate schedule, which will be implemented at a later date. The current rates are as follows:
- Residential (per Unit): $9.00/year, billed twice a year
- Commercial/Industrial (per Unit): $23.00/year, billed quarterly
Any rate changes must be approved by City Council as part of a public process.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is charged with enforcing state and federal regulations related to water quality, including storm water. The City works with the agency to comply with regulations.
U.S. Clean Water Act
Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES)
The Storm Water Discharge General Permit MS4 is managed by DEQ to help ensure water quality. The five year permit, effective January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2021 requires that the City have a full-time storm water coordinator, increase hands-on education about storm water pollution and prevention, and increase public input into the program.
Reporting
2016 Annual Report
Storm Water Management Program
Contact us to provide your comments to the Storm Water Management Program.
Laws
U.S. Clean Water Act
Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES)
Permits
The Storm Water Discharge General Permit MS4 is managed by DEQ to help ensure water quality. The five year permit, effective January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2021 requires that the City have a full-time storm water coordinator, increase hands-on education about storm water pollution and prevention, and increase public input into the program.
Reporting
2016 Annual Report
Storm Water Management Program
Contact us to provide your comments to the Storm Water Management Program.
Construction Permit Activities
Missoula Municipal Code 15.65 governs Grading, Drainage and Erosion permits for any construction work where the grade of lot/parcel is altered more than three feet. The exception is for new single family residences where the original slope is less than 5%. The purpose of the permits are to control the quantity of storm water runoff and to provide minimum standards for site grading and storm water management.
Construction activity that results in disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre of total land area requires permit coverage. "Disturbance" related to construction activity means areas that are subject to clearing excavating, grading, stockpiling earth materials, and placement/removal of earth material performed during construction projects. The "owner or operator" is fully responsible for the permit, and is required to obtain and submit the Application Package from Montana DEQ.
Essentially, after the applicable items listed below are successfully submitted, received, and reviewed by Montana DEQ, the applicant will submit to the City of Missoula the SWPPP, NOI and DEQ approval letter (not the General Permit). Subsequently, the City will review and if approved, the permit will be issued.
Documents to be submitted may include:
- Notice of Intent (NOI)
- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
- SWPPP Attachments A, B, C, D, and E
- Notice of Termination (NOT)
- Permit Transfer Notification (PTN)
- Storm Water Rainfall Erosivity Waiver
Major Water Quality Accomplishments
- Extension of the sewer system in older areas of the community previously served by outdated cesspools and seepage pits
- Adoption of the first municipal phosphate ban in the Clark Fork River watershed, leading the way for other communities
- Storm water and flood control improvements for the Pattee Canyon, South Hills, 39th Street, and Miller Creek areas
- Installation of treatment devices for storm water discharges in downtown Missoula at Orange Street and Silver Park and planning for improved treatment at Caras Park and Buckhouse Bridge
- Installation of the hybrid poplar project, 90,000 trees planted near the treatment plant and watered with effluent that would have gone to the Clark Fork River, eliminating significant amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous
If you have construction project complaints or suspect illicit discharge, call or contact any of these resources.