Stormwater Pollution Prevention By-Laws Fact Sheet

East Longmeadow was required to develop stormwater bylaws by the USEPA under the Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). The goal of the NPDES MS4 program is to minimize the impacts to water resources from municipally-owned stormwater management systems, which includes storm drain, catch basins, detention ponds, and outfalls. Our stormwater systems discharge to wetlands and streams, and can transport pollutants or cause erosion or flooding. The enacted by-laws have been designed to minimize these potential environmental impacts.

To meet USEPA’s requirements, the East Longmeadow Board of Public Works has replaced Section 8.070 of the General By-laws “Dumping into Storm Drains” with a more comprehensive by-law that addresses the USEPA requirements. This enacted by-law regulates construction and post-construction stormwater runoff from new developments that impact one acre or more of land and prohibits non-stormwater pollutants from entering the municipal storm drain system.

The enacted by-law identifies who is regulated, sets procedures for permitting and compliance, and establishes East Longmeadow’s legal authority to ensure by-law compliance through inspection, monitoring, and enforcement. The Department of Public Works is responsible for permitting review and enforcement of by-law compliance.

Links
Stormwater Management Plan 2021

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan - East Longmeadow DPW Garage and Yard

EL Municipal Facilities and Activities Inventory and Operations & Maintenance Plan

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan - Knowlton Transfer Station

MS4 East Longmeadow Stormwater Program Update as of August 9, 2023

Key Points

Key points related to the regulation of construction and post-construction related stormwater runoff include:

• Applies to new projects impacting one or more acres of land
• Exempts projects that require an Order of Conditions from the Conservation Commission, as these projects would also require review under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations which includes stormwater management
• Establishes a permitting process with the Board of Public Works addressing construction erosion and sedimentation controls and post-construction stormwater management

Key points related to the regulation of non-stormwater discharges to the municipal storm drain system include:

• Applies to everyone
• Prohibits the discharge of anything other than stormwater into the municipal storm drain system
• Exempts specific discharges including:
  • Foundation drains, footing drains and similar
  • Residential car washing
  • Dechlorinated swimming pool water
• Sets a phase-in period