Stormwater Management Regulations
The Federal Clean Water Act requires that municipalities must comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) NPDES II program. The goals of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program are to preserve, protect, and improve water quality resources by reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff.
Stormwater runoff picks up materials from the Village’s streets, parking lots and yards and is eventually discharged in water bodies used for swimming, fishing and drinking water. Sources of pollution include cars, improper storage of toxic materials, dumping in driveways or streets, fertilizers and pesticides and pet waste.
Wilmette’s NPDES program is designed to meet the following standards set forth by the U.S. EPA:
- Public education and outreach
- Public participation and involvement
- Construction site runoff control
- Post-construction runoff control
- Illicit discharge detection and elimination
- Municipal pollution prevention and good housekeeping
Program Implementation
As part of the NPDES program, Wilmette has changed its practices on fertilizer and pesticide application and increased environmental controls on construction sites. Wilmette has also teamed up with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and Wilmette School District # 39 to educate the public about the importance of water quality. Additionally, Wilmette’s newsletter, The Communicator, regularly contains helpful tips and important information on reducing pollutants in runoff.