Stormwater Management Division

Water from rain and melting snow either seeps into the ground or “runs off” to lower areas, making its way into streams, lakes and other water bodies. On its way, runoff water can pick up and carry many substances that pollute water.

Some substances – like pesticides, fertilizers, oil and soap – are harmful in any quantity. Others – like sediment from construction, bare soil, pet waste, grass clippings and leaves – can harm streams, creeks, rivers and other water bodies in sufficient quantities.

In addition to rain and snow-melt, various human activities like watering your lawn, car washing, and malfunctioning septic tanks can also put water on the land surface. Here, it can also create runoff that carries pollutants to creeks, rivers and other water bodies.

Polluted runoff generally happens anywhere people use or alter the land. For example, in developed areas, none of the water that falls on hard surfaces like roofs, driveways, parking lots or roads can seep into the ground. These impervious surfaces create large amounts of runoff that picks up pollutants. Runoff not only pollutes but erodes stream banks. The mix of pollution and eroded dirt muddies the water and causes problems downstream.

If you own a car, maintain it so it does not leak oil or other fluids. Be sure to wash it on the grass or at a carwash so the dirt and soap do not flow down the driveway and into the nearest storm drain.

If you own a yard, do not over fertilize your grass. Never apply fertilizers or pesticides before a heavy rain. If fertilizer falls onto driveways or sidewalks, sweep it up instead of hosing it away. Mulch leaves and grass clippings and place leaves in the yard at the curb, not in the street. Doing this keeps leaves out of the street gutter, where they can wash into the nearest storm drain. Turn your home gutter downspouts away from hard surfaces, seed bare spots in your yard to avoid erosion and consider building a rain garden in low-lying areas of your lawn.

Pet owners should pick up after their pets and dispose of pet waste in the garbage.

Keep lawn and household chemicals tightly sealed, and in a place where rain cannot reach them. Dispose of old or unwanted chemicals at household hazardous waste collections sites or events.

Never put anything in a storm drain. Don’t litter.

Participate in the next stream and river cleanup event in your area. Storm drain marking events – where the destination of stormwater is clearly marked on the drain – are a fun way to let your neighbors know the storm drain in only for rain.

Attend public hearings or meetings on the topic so you can express your concerns.

Report stormwater violations when you spot them to the City of Fort Oglethorpe Stormwater Department 706-866-2544 ext. 1206

The City has developed and implemented a SWMP to maintain and enhance water quality and ensure that negative stormwater impacts are minimized throughout the city. The SWMP consists of both citizen educational efforts as well as technical and regulatory programs. It is also a federal and state requirement that cities implement a SWMP.

The Federal Clean Water Act requires Georgia to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). To comply with this program, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division requires local governments to obtain NPDES permit coverage by developing and implementing a SWMP.

The City’s public education and involvement efforts are directed to both the development/engineering community as well as the general public. The city posts articles and stormwater – related information on the website and social media and provides permit applicants with detailed checklists to ensure stormwater requirements are met. The city also hosts an annual community event to distribute stormwater information and inform citizens on how stormwater is addressed within the city.

An illicit discharge is a discharge of pollutants or non-stormwater materials such as sanitary wastes, yard debris and auto fluids into a stormwater drainage system. The City adopted an ordinance that establishes fines for illegal discharges. In addition, the city inspects stormwater outfalls annually to ensure non-stormwater discharges are identified and corrected. The City also posts information on the website that educates the public about stormwater systems, pollutants, and illicit discharges and responds to citizens reports of illegal activity.

The City has an erosion & sediment control ordinance and requires compliance with approved erosion & sediment control plans for building and land disturbance permits. City inspectors visit these permitted sites to ensure the plan is being followed and sediment is retained onsite and prevented from adjacent properties and surface waters. The City also enforces stream buffers which prevents development activities from occurring close to streams and responds to citizen reports of erosion and sediment issues associated with land development sites.

The City has adopted a stormwater ordinance and design manual to ensure the water quality is maintained and improved and drainage systems are designed to protect downstream properties. The ordinance requires that new developments and redevelopments have a plan in place to address water quality and water quantity impacts. The design manual provides guidance on the proper ways to select, design and maintain stormwater controls. The City employs certified staff to review land development plans and inspect land development projects in the field to ensure compliance with the ordinance. The City also requires a stormwater management facility maintenance agreement and inspects these facilities to see that they are properly maintained by the owners.

The City has programs to inspect and maintain stormwater structures in the right-or-way. Structures such as catch basins and inlets are cleaned and the roadways are swept to keep trash and debris from entering the storm system.

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