WHAT IS STORMWATER QUALITY?

The NPDES Stormwater Program, in place since 1990, regulates discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), construction activities, industrial activities, and those designated by EPA due to water quality impacts. MS4s with Post Construction Storm Water Permit inlclude City of Houston, Harris County, League City and Clear Lake. 

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On October 1, 1998, the City of Houston received a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The MS4 permit required that a storm water quality permit program be administered by the City. The program requires any new development of an undeveloped parcel of land five acres or larger, or significant redevelopment of changes of one acre or more to the impervious surface on a five acre or larger developed parcel must have an annually renewable Storm Water Quality permit and develop a Storm Water Quality Management Plan that details how the property will control the quality of storm water leaving the property. To comply with the MS4 permit the City adopted Ord. No. 01-800 (Code of Ordinance Chapter 47 Article 12) in 2001.

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The Commissioners Court of Harris County, Texas adopts these Regulations in its capacity as the governing body of Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District. The authority of Harris County to adopt these Regulations and the contents hereof is derived from Texas Local Government Code, Section 422, as amended, and these Regulations may be amended at any time by a majority of Commissioners Court as approved by the appropriate federal authorities.

The purpose of these Regulations is to provide land use controls necessary to comply with Harris County's NPDES or TPDES stormwater permit, to protect human life and health and to avoid increasing pollutant levels associated with storm water.

All new development and significant redevelopment within the unincorporated areas of Harris County, Texas without first securing a SWQ Permit, or submitting an Industrial Activity Certification in accordance with Part B, Section 1.05 is prohibited.

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