Baltimore Meets Restoration Milestone in Stormwater Permit

Wednesday Jan 2nd, 2019

Green banner with DPW logo and text "Department of Public Works Press Release"

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rudy S. Chow, P.E., announced that Baltimore has met its stormwater discharge permit requirement to restore an equivalent of 20 percent of its impervious surface to the maximum extent possible. That milestone highlights the Fiscal Year 2018 annual report detailing the City’s work to comply with its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

To date, Baltimore is the only Phase I MS4 permit holder to meet the impervious surface restoration requirements without having to resort to nutrient trading. 

The FY18 annual report has been submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and is now available to the public. The report can be found at https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/regulatory-mandates-plans-and-reports.

Among highlights of the report are data summaries for stream and watershed sampling; budget and expenditures; inspections and public education; and information on water quality improvement plans and implementation. Meeting local total maximum daily loads (TMDL) is still in progress.

Annual MS4 reports are required as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The report includes the progress of compliance for Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018).

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