Stormwater Management

Our Mission:

to evolve into a more comprehensive and proactive part of Bartow County's efforts to protect the environment and our future while effectively and efficiently manage stormwater runoff 

Bartow County is required by law to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Stormwater NPDES Phase II Permit Program. This program requires that all regulated communities, including Bartow County, prepare stormwater management plans to control runoff of stormwater from both point and non-point pollution sources.

The current Stormwater Management Program was established in 2004 and is responsible for the development and implementation of stormwater pollution abatement projects within unincorporated Bartow County.

Under the Federal Clean Water Act, each the county is issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. The goal of the permit is to stop polluted discharges from entering the storm drain system and local waterways. Bartow County’s Stormwater Management Program is designed to meet the requirements of the NPDES Permit.

The Stormwater Program has two major elements —

• Reduce Pollution -  which involves compliance with federal regulations, and in essence, constitutes the model program components (i.e., Public Education, Inspection/Enforcement, Illicit Discharges/Illicit Connections, Program Compliance)
• Flood Control – which is essential for the protection of life and property.

A major focus of the program is the control and elimination of stormwater pollution through compliance with the NPDES municipal stormwater permit, which renews on a five year cycle.

The Engineering Division administers Bartow County’s Stormwater Management Program.  The program is currently funded entirely by the General Fund. 

The purpose of this web page is to increase public awareness about Bartow County's implementation of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) as part of the Federal Phase II Stormwater Management Program.

Current federal stormwater management regulations require the County apply for and maintain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge stormwater from the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).

The federal regulations establish six categories of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) that must be implemented by all permittees. Each municipality subject to the regulation must implement a stormwater management program which contains all of these elements. The six BMP categories, also called “minimum control measures”, are as follows:

1.  Public Education--Distribute stormwater educational materials to the building/development community and general public organizations, and businesses.

• Stormwater Runoff Brochure
• Pet Waste Brochure
• Washing Your Car
• Eight Simple Things to Improve Water Quality

2.  Public Involvement-

Please visit this link to the Bartow County Website for more information about the Adopt-A-Road Program.

3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination- Create map of all outfalls within the community and evaluate for illicit discharges and eliminate via existing ordinances.

4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Management--Attempt to educate developers within the municipality on the stormwater codes that are enforced.

• Construction Site Operator’s Guide to Stormwater Permit Program
• Stormwater and the Construction Industry Poster with BMPs
• Development Services Resources including forms and checklists

The Stormwater Management Program is comprised of several functions:

Program Management: implements and manages the Stormwater Program and supports the efforts of the Stormwater Management Committee.

Stormwater Administration: is the primary point of contact for citizens or anyone requesting stormwater information, posing drainage questions, and making drainage complaints.

Stormwater Services: analyzes, designs and oversees the construction of stormwater devices and structures identified in the County’s capital improvements plan (CIP).

Water Quality: The  focus on water quality includes collecting and analyzing surface water quality samples for contaminants, locating and eliminating illicit discharges, implementing engineering practices to improve the quality of stormwater runoff, and educating citizens on pollution issues challenging the County.

Infrastructure Management: locates and maps stormwater structures in the County’s 470 square mile jurisdiction.

Development Plan Review: review development plans for compliance of floodplain, stream buffer and peak runoff control and water quality regulations.  Responsibilities also include reviewing plans from preliminary stage to permit issuance to construction drawing approval as well as managing the County’s floodplain management program.

Development Inspections: enforces the County’s Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, Floodplain Management regulations, and Stormwater Control and Stream Buffer Regulations.

Environmental Compliance: enforces applicable soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations by evaluating and mediating all stormwater complaints pertaining to non-maintenance issues from private citizens as well as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Stormwater Management

EVENTS

Education & Outreach

Residential Information

Business Information 

Land Development

Operation & Maintenance

Regulations

Floodplain Management

Flood Safety

Construction Requirements

Flood Insurance

Resources