Stormwater

Chelmsford Stormwater Management Requirements
 
The Chelmsford Department of Public Works oversees the Town's Stormwater Management Program and is actively working to meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) MS4 Stormwater Permit Regulations.  Massachusetts’ MS4 program is a federally mandated permit under the EPA’s Clean Water Act, and is overseen by both the EPA and MassDEP. The goal of the program is to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff. The permit applies to municipalities, like Chelmsford, requiring the Town to take proactive steps in managing stormwater and protecting local water bodies from contamination.

The 2016 Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit was signed April 4, 2016 and became effective July 1, 2018. The final permit reflects modifications to the 2014 draft small MS4 general permit released for comment on September 30, 2014 and replaces the 2003 small MS4 general permit for MS4 operators within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EPA finalized additional modifications to the 2016 MA MS4 General Permit on December 7, 2020. The Modifications become effective January 6, 2021.

To meet these new requirements, the Town requires additional staff and resources.  Failure to meet these requirements will result in fines for non-compliance. While these are federally mandated regulations from the EPA, individual municipalities are left to fund the permit on their own. Chelmsford has created a Stormwater Division under the Department of Public Works which is funded by a stormwater utility fee. 
 
For any questions or comments about the Town of Chelmsford's Stormwater Management Program, please contact the Stormwater Engineer, Courtney Thompson, at the DPW at 978-250-5228 x5235 or email cthompson@ChelmsfordMA.gov