What is an MS4?
An MS4, or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, is a system of conveyances like pipes, ditches, and swales that collect and transport stormwater runoff. Unlike a combined sewer system, an MS4 carries stormwater directly to local waterbodies without any type of filtering or treatment. This means that anything that the runoff picks up, such as oils, fertilizers, and trash, can pollute our waterways.
The Town of Porter is an MS4 community. Our town has a direct impact on the health of local waterbodies including Lake Michigan. To protect water quality, the Town of Porter is required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s MS4 General Permit to create and implement a Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) that includes several measures to help reduce stormwater pollution.
Where Exactly Does Our Stormwater Go?
When it rains or snow melts the resulting water flows off impervious surfaces – hard surfaces such as rooftops, streets, and parking lots that prevent stormwater from soaking into the ground. This runoff enters the stormwater system, a network of pipes, swales, and ditches that transport it to nearby waterways. In the Town of Porter, we have six main receiving waterbodies: Little Calumet River, Coffee Creek, Dunes Creek, Salt Creek, Munson Ditch, and Peterson Ditch. Unfortunately, all of these waterbodies are impaired for E coli, and some are also impaired for biological integrity and dissolved oxygen. From these waterways, our stormwater continues its journey to Lake Michigan, a vital resource for drinking water, recreation, and wildlife.
Porter is a part of the Lake Michigan Shoreline Watershed. A watershed is an area where all the water – whether from rain, snowmelt, orstreams – drains to a common waterbody. In our case, all stormwater ultimately drains into Lake Michigan. Covering approximately 22,404 square miles, Lake Michigan is the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world and holds just over 4% of the entire world’s surface freshwater. However, this resource is vulnerable to pollution carried by stormwater runoff, including bacteria, nutrients, and trash. Protecting stormwater in our community not only safeguards our local streams and rivers, but also helps to ensure the health of Lake Michigan for current and future generations.
What is a Swale?
Swales and ditches are important stormwater management tools that reduce flooding and improve water quality. These shallow, vegetated channels slow down stormwater flow, allowing pollutants to settle out and soak into the ground. Plants and soils in the swale filter out contaminants such as oils, sediments, and nutrients in fertilizers, which keeps pollutants out of nearby waterbodies. In addition to their benefits to stormwater pollution, swales also reduce erosion and recharge groundwater supply, making them a valuable resource for managing stormwater in our community.
Why Does the Town Charge a Stormwater (MS4) Fee?
The stormwater fee is similar to a water or sewer utility fee. Just like you pay to remove sewage from your property, you are essentially paying to remove stormwater runoff from your property. Every lot and parcel in Porter, developed or undeveloped, are all charged a fee (they all interact with stormwater!) This fee is used as a dedicated funding source that directly supports the Town of Porter’s stormwater management program. It is used to maintain and upgrade the town’s stormwater system, prevent flooding, reduce pollution, and comply with state and federal stormwater regulations.
Porter Pollution Control Efforts
The responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the storm drain system throughout Indiana is shared by its government and every citizen living within their respective jurisdictions.
The Town of Porter actively maintains its stormwater system to prevent pollution and keep water flowing smoothly. Using collected stormwater fees, our Town’s crews routinely clean storm drain inlets to remove leaves, trash, and other debris that can clog the system and cause flooding. Street sweeping operations are also conducted regularly to remove pollutants such as sediment and trash from roadways before they can wash into storm drains. Additionally, the town monitors and maintains swales, ditches, and other drainage structures to ensure that they continue to work effectively and help to filter pollutants. These efforts of our town are vital to help maintain water quality and prevent flooding in our community.
In compliance with the IDEM MS4GP, the Town of Porter also regulates construction sites within its boundaries. Sites that are over an acre must submit a construction permit application and stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). This plan includes information such as a site description, potential pollutants, erosion and sediment controls, maintenance and inspection procedures, and spill response. MS4 Permit applications can be picked up at Porter Town Hall. The MS4 Coordinator can determine exactly which permit you will need for your site.
Indian Springs Park
Green Infrastructure is on display at our very own Indian Springs Park! In 2015, the Town of Porter cleared a large amount of vegetation on the south shore of Lake Pratt. This resulted in a huge increase in the public use of the lake, which highlighted one problem – There was not a safe way for the public to access the lakefront.
The Solution? With lots of hard work, and the help of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program, Porter was able to create and implement a permeable pavement walkway with a secondary staircase leading down to Lake Pratt.
Permeable Pavement is a pavement type with a porous surface that allows stormwater to infiltrate through to the ground below, reducing runoff and therefore pollution. Not only did this design provide safe public access to Lake Pratt, but it also utilized permeable surface that would work to protect the quality of the lake. The paving project also included the installation of four educational signage posts that teach the public about the project, permeable pavement, and stormwater pollution prevention.
How Can I Help Prevent Stormwater Pollution?
NIRPC recently conducted a survey among local individuals that showed that 58% of respondents did not believe that they influence water quality. This is false. There are several ways that our everyday actions can have a direct impact on the water quality of Lake Michigan and nearby waterways! A few specific examples are listed below:
Pet Waste: When we fail to pick up pet waste, rainwater will come into contact with it, picking up harmful bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus before flowing into storm drains and waterways. Adding nutrients to waterways may sound positive, but excessive nutrients can contribute to algal blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen in a waterbody and create dead zones where aquatic life struggles to survive. By properly picking up and disposing of pet waste, we can reduce this source of pollution.
Pesticides and Fertilizers: While these chemicals are useful for maintaining healthy lawns and gardens, they can have harmful effects on water quality when not used and stored responsibly. Using an excess of these products or applying them prior to rainfall can lead to them being carried away into nearby storm drains and waterways. Fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus that can contribute to algal blooms. Pesticides contain toxic chemicals that can unintentionally harm fish and local wildlife. To reduce the risks of these products, it is important to apply both sparingly, according to application instructions, and to check the local weather conditions. It is best to avoid applying these products within 24-48 hours of a rain event.
Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping in the streets and the storm drain system is one of the largest contributors to water pollution in the country. The exposed open flood control channels are often easy targets for illegal dumping and convenient trash disposal. Soiled diapers, shopping carts, yard waste, antifreeze, cleaning solvents, soapy water, and used oil containers are just some of the many items tossed into open channels. When it rains, runoff will carry these items through the storm system and eventually to local water bodies, including Lake Michigan.
Proper disposal of waste and reporting illegal dumping can help to protect our community and its water resources. You can find a link to our MS4 complaint/inquiry form here.
Remember, only rain in the storm drain!
