{"id":1804,"date":"2023-11-28T09:45:14","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/?page_id=1804"},"modified":"2025-06-17T13:09:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:09:18","slug":"stormwater-management","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Stormwater Management"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">@media not all and (min-width: 800px){}@media all and (min-width: 800px){.CWMPOverviewSection {display: block;display: -ms-flexbox;display: -webkit-flex;display: flex;-webkit-flex-wrap: nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap: nowrap;flex-wrap: nowrap;-webkit-justify-content: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;justify-content: center;-webkit-align-items: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: start;align-items: flex-start;}.CWMPOverviewBody {display: inline-block;vertical-align: top;width: 60%;-webkit-flex: 6 6 auto;-ms-flex: 6 6 auto;flex: 6 6 auto;}.CWMPOverviewCallout {display: inline-block;vertical-align: top;width: 39%;margin-left: 1em;-webkit-flex: 0 4 24em;-ms-flex: 0 4 24em;flex: 0 4 24em;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"CWMPOverviewSection\">\n<div class=\"CWMPOverviewBody\">\n<h2>What is Stormwater Pollution?<\/h2>\n<p>Storm drains collect water outside of homes and businesses and channel the water directly to waterways such as local streams and rivers, untreated. More pollutants reach our waterways through the storm drains than through sewage treatment plants and industrial discharges combined.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System.png?version=166b109458f58cfb7a626db60b1290b1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1824\" src=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-300x192.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a drainage system\" width=\"363\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-1024x656.png 1024w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-768x492.png 768w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-1536x984.png 1536w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System-468x300.png 468w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Municipal-Drainage-System.png 1978w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"isPasted\">The Department of Public Works implements measures to reduce and improve water quality by implementing stormwater management throughout the Town of Sudbury. Stormwater runoff is rainwater or melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other sites. When stormwater is absorbed into the soil, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers.<\/p>\n<p>Impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches and can cause:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Downstream flooding<\/li>\n<li>Stream bank erosion<\/li>\n<li>Increased turbidity (muddiness created by stirred-up sediment) from erosion<\/li>\n<li>Habitat destruction<\/li>\n<li>Combined storm and sanitary sewer system overflows<\/li>\n<li>Infrastructure damage<\/li>\n<li>Contaminated streams and rivers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"subhead1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-scaled.jpg?version=1a124d2b711949db7b3fabda9692d7ce\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1822 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.sudbury.ma.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Storm drain\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Storm-Drain-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Town of Sudbury Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)<\/h2>\n<p>The Department of Public Works manages the Town&#8217;s Municipal Separate Storm System (MS4). This system, also known as the drainage system, includes drainage pipes connecting to catch basins (also called drains) and drainage manholes. The Town is authorized to discharge stormwater through the Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for small MS4s. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the NPDES Phase II permitting program. In order to comply with the program, the Town must follow six minimum control measures, which are implemented through a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs).<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li id=\"isPasted\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/\">Public education and outreach<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/\">Public involvement and participation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/illicit-discharge-detection-elimination\/\">Illicit discharge detection and elimination<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/stormwater-pollution-prevention-for-businesses\/construction-sites-home-repairs-general-contractors\/\">Construction site stormwater runoff control<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/npdes\">Post-construction stormwater management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/npdes\">Pollution prevention and good housekeeping<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram.png?version=899145da516be826ce1791aaaa6286c3\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1830\" src=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram-300x290.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a catchbasin\" width=\"290\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram-300x290.png 300w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram-1024x989.png 1024w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram-768x741.png 768w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram-311x300.png 311w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2023\/11\/Catch-Basin-Diagram.png 1184w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>Sudbury\u2019s MS4 Drainage System Facts<\/h3>\n<p><em>All figures indicated below are approximations.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>60 Miles of Stormwater Drainage Pipe<\/li>\n<li>3,000 Catch-basins (public and private)<\/li>\n<li>1,800 Manholes (public and private)<\/li>\n<li>450 Stormwater Discharge Points<\/li>\n<li>100 Culverts<\/li>\n<li>Ditches and Swales&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Additional Links<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/pcd\/2022\/04\/11\/sudbury-updates-stormwater-management-program\/\">Sudbury Stormwater Management Program<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/pcd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/326\/2022\/04\/Sudbury-PY5-SWMP-Update-230724.pdf?version=932be0703abfb68bfe2626fd246e57c0\">2023 Stormwater Management Program Plan (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.sudbury.ma.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/283\/2019\/11\/Sudbury-Stormwater-Handout-External.pdf?version=703ebd3af6156b0ec489e05a1782e28c\">Sudbury&#8217;s Commitment to Clean Water &amp; Stormwater Drainage System Facts (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.sudbury.ma.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/326\/2019\/06\/Sudbury-MS4-101_SWMP-06-25-2019.pdf?version=c935a7563abb2cbdf27f231ebecb470a\">Stormwater Drainage and Compliance Presentation (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mapsonline.net\/sudburyma\/stormwater.html\">Public Stormwater Map (MapsOnline)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkbluemassachusetts.org\/\">Think Blue Massachusetts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"CWMPOverviewCallout\" style=\"background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #1f3864; padding: 0.5em; border: 1px solid #000;\">\n<h3>Learn More About Stormwater Management<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/\">Stormwater Public Education &amp; Outreach<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>\u25b6 <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/stormwater-pollution-prevention-tips-for-residents\/\">Pollution Prevention for Residents<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>\u25b6 <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/public-education-and-outreach\/stormwater-pollution-prevention-for-businesses\/\">Pollution Prevention for Businesses<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/illicit-discharge-detection-elimination\/\">Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6<a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/pcd\/2022\/04\/11\/sudbury-updates-stormwater-management-program\/\"> Sudbury Stormwater Management Program<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mapsonline.net\/sudburyma\/stormwater.html\"> Public Stormwater Map (MapsOnline)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Stormwater Pollution? Storm drains collect water outside of homes and businesses and channel the water directly to waterways such as local streams and rivers, untreated. More pollutants reach our waterways through the storm &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/stormwater-management\/\" aria-label=\"Read full article about Stormwater Management\">Read full article<span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-fullwidth.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1804"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1804"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2333,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1804\/revisions\/2333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/dpw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}