Hidalgo County Storm Water Quality Partners

Storm water runoff can carry pollutants through the storm water drainage system directly into local bayous, ditches, ponds, and ultimately, into lakes and oceans. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is a federal program that regulates storm water discharge into these types of waterways.The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality operates this program under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Pictures on the right side are not from a distant place, but from Rio Grande Valley. It is where we live, where we obtain our water... Contamination in the water is affecting all of us, almost immediately. Hidalgo County Storm Water Quality Partners collaborate in preventing pollution in our waterways.

There are several storm water discharges that are monitored and regulated. These include municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), industrial activities and construction activities.

Regulated industrial activities are defined by Environmental Protection Agency as facilities with effluent limitations, manufacturing, mineral/metal/oil/gas, hazardous waste/disposal/treatment facilities, landfills, recycling facilities, steam electric plants, transportation facilities, treatment works, construction activity and light industrial activity. Even though construction activity is listed under industrial activity, it does require separate permits.

MS4s and construction activities can be labeled in either Phase I or Phase II, each phase having specific requirements. MS4s are separated into each phase based on their designation as small, medium or large.

Phase I and Phase II

Construction activities are separated into each phase based on the area of disturbed acres. If the activity area is less than one acre, then a permit will be required if planned construction will exceed one acre. One to 5 disturbed acres are labeled as Phase II, and more than 5 acres are labeled as Phase I.