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 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:
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 important information on reducing pollutants in runoff.
Water quality is in everyone’s interest and residents can make a difference. For more information please check out the additional resources listed below.
Wilmette Public Works