National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

In urbanized areas there are greater amounts of impervious surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots that common pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, alt, oil, litter and other debris can settle. The pollutants remain there until a storm event washes them away into nearby storm drains and are discharged untreated to waterways.

In response to this, as of March 2003 the municipalities of Lake County were required to have a permit for Phase II of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Phase II is intended to reduce the negative impact to water quality and aquatic habitat by controlling unregulated sources of storm water discharge.

The municipalities are to implement a storm water management program, which addresses 6 minimum control measures:

  • Construction site runoff
  • Detection of illicit discharge
  • Municipal pollution prevention
  • Post construction site runoff
  • Public education
  • Public participation

Vernon Township Storm Water Management Commission

As part of Lake County, Vernon Township has the benefit of the Storm Water Management Commission (SMC). SMC has formed an ad-hoc Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) that consists of representatives from villages, townships, drainage districts, consultants, and the county. Through this committee SMC coordinates the local program, provides technical assistance and outreach services. Because of the countywide activities of SMC including the Watershed Development Ordinance (WDO) 4 of the 6 control measures are already in place.