(12/10) With winter weather rapidly encroaching on the region, Thurmont residents are being requested to minimize the use of deicers and salt in order to prevent those substances from finding their way into the stormwater collection system.
Andrew Tuleya, Arro Consulting, works with Thurmont in complying with its state MS4 stormwater management permit, and informed the Town Council at their December 8 meeting, that a small amount of salt or deicer can pollute a great deal of water. For example, he noted one teaspoon of salt can cause five gallons of water to be polluted.
Tuleya did not try to sway residents and road-crews from using those products, but rather he stated, "Try to use those materials sparingly, and try to avoid those materials from entering the roadways or anywhere around a storm drain where it can be carried by stormwater into the storm sewer system … apply as much as needed, and store those deicers in a dry location."
He suggested that residents do some research to see if there are any "green" alternative products that can be used in-lieu of common deicers and salts, but also noted that environmentally-friendly products can be somewhat more-expensive.
Tuleya also asked for the public to stay out of any stormwater retention ponds, not only when they ice-over during the winter, but at any other time throughout the year as well.
"We ask the public to please stay out of the stormwater ponds around town, whether they are infrastructure that is managed or operated by the town, or whether it’s a privately-owned HOA pond, or if it’s (owned by) a private-land holder… these structures are meant to preserve water quality."
He said if the structures are degraded by foot-traffic or by people entering the pond areas, it can damage the ponds’ abilities to properly treat the accrued stormwater, adding, "And on top of that - it is also a safety concern (to those entering pond areas)."
Tuleya’s presentation was largely centered on what Thurmont has been doing thus far in meeting the requirements of its MS4 stormwater-management permit. Under the permitting requirements, permit-holders are required to develop educational programs to inform the public about stormwater-runoff pollution.
Regarding this requirement, Tuleya stated, "Recently, with the help of the town staff, we published a public education and involvement stormwater survey on the town’s website (can be accessed at thurmont.com/2287/Stormwater-Survey). We encourage the public, including the residents, town staff and businesses, to participate." Hard-copies are also available from the town.
He said the staff has also discussed contacting the area schools to have students fill out the surveys, which, while the schools are conducting their classes virtually, can be accomplished by accessing the survey online, and "getting the younger population involved."
In order to provide for the prevention of pollution of water in the country, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has established guidelines under the federal Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process, which it then passes on to all the states to administer.
In Maryland, the permits, designated as MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permits, are issued by the state Department of the Environment, who then also enforce compliance.
As per the permitting guidelines, the town must make a discernable effort to prohibit pollutants from entering the stormwater system, including via stormwater discharges or any other unauthorized discharges.
