Alabama Water Quality Information System

— Choose a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) —


	1.-		By when are MS4s and other regulated Storm Water Phase II operators required to have NPDES permits?


	2.-		Can chitosan aid in the removal of metal ions like copper (Cu++) and zinc (Zn++) from water?


	3.-		Can high road salt levels in storm water runoff lead to non-native species taking over in fresh water lakes?


	4.-		Can limiting impervious surfaces protect water quality?


	5.-		Can nonpoint source program dollars made available to states through EPA as a component of Section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) be used in implementing Phase II Storm Water Programs?


	6.-		Can smart growth strategies be used to protect watersheds?


	7.-		Can use of road salt as a safety measure to clear roads of ice and snow lead to water quality issues or drinking water problems?


	8.-		Do I need a water pollution control permit?


	9.-		Do polyelectrolytes such as chitosan have value in urban storm water management?


	10.-		Do the chemicals or other pollutants in urban runoff pose a threat to human health?


	11.-		Does the Storm Water Phase II rule affect/change the Phase I industrial storm water program in any way?


	12.-		How are communities notified of hazardous waste emergencies?


	13.-		How are watershed protection and growth management related?


	14.-		How big is the Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) problem?


	15.-		How can overusing water to maintain urban landscapes cause water quality problems?


	16.-		How can Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) be reduced or eliminated?


	17.-		How did low impact development (LID) get started?


	18.-		How did the Transportation Act affect storm water permitting requirements for municipalities under 100,000?


	19.-		How does a permitted storm water facility operator terminate coverage?


	20.-		How does a storm water permitted construction operator terminate coverage?


	21.-		How does an industrial facility operator determine whether they need to obtain an NPDES Storm Water Permit?


	22.-		How does an industrial facility operator obtain coverage under EPA's Storm Water Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)?


	23.-		How does the CSO Control Policy address combined sewer overflows?


	24.-		How does the Transportation Act impact privately owned or operated industrial activities located in municipalities under 100,000?


	25.-		How does water used for industrial or other cooling towers present potential environmental threats?


	26.-		I already have a water pollution control permit. Are urban stormwater permits a new requirement?


	27.-		If a construction operation disturbing five or more acres is owned by a small municipality (a population of less than 100,000 people) but operated by a private contractor, is the activity regulated?


	28.-		If a municipally-owned sewage treatment plant is located in a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 people, but the service population is greater than 100,000 people, is the facility subject to the permitting requirements?


	29.-		Is a NPDES permit required for regulated municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)?


	30.-		Is it okay to direct concentrated flow through buffers to streams?

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This website was developed by the ACES Water Quality Team, under the leadership of Dr. James E. Hairston. It is funded, in part, by USDA-CSREES water quality grant support under Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998.