Stormwater Management

Regional Collaboration

The Regional Stormwater Management Program was established in 1999, when the local governments of Hampton Roads developed a consensus on regional goals to guide the operation of their stormwater management programs.  The Hampton Roads local governments have participated in a Regional Stormwater Memorandum of Agreement since 2003. 

The Hampton Roads localities are subject to the following stormwater management programs. 

MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System CBPA = Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act VSMP = Virginia Stormwater Management Program

HRPDC Water Resources staff facilitates the Regional Stormwater Management Program and provides technical and advisory assistance to support localities in meeting state stormwater management regulations and the requirements of state-issued stormwater permits. The program includes cooperative initiatives in the following areas:

• Environmental education;
• Control of construction site stormwater runoff;
• Management of stormwater impacts associated with post-construction;
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination;
• Municipal pollution prevention;
• Regional cooperative monitoring;
• Regional cooperative data tracking; and
• Monitoring of regulatory changes.

The Regional Cooperation in Stormwater Management report is developed each year to document the cooperative activities undertaken by Hampton Roads local governments.  Activities described include the regional information exchange process, public information and education, legislative and regulatory issues, cooperative regional studies and related programs.

HRPDC Water Resources staff facillitate a Regional Stormwater Workgroup, where the local Stormwater Managers meet regularly  to discuss the initiatives described above. 

Stormwater Permits

HRPDC staff supports local governments in the administration and compliance with stormwater permits administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for stormwater discharges from municipal separate stormwater sewers (MS4). MS4s are owned by the locality and consist of the road drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels and storm drains designed to collect and convey stormwater. MS4s are not connected to the wastewater collection and treatment system.

DEQ administers the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) through the VSMP regulations authorized by the Virginia Stormwater Management Act. Through the program, DEQ issues and enforces permits to control stormwater from MS4s and other sources. MS4 permit regulations were developed and implemented in two phases; the applicability of Phase I and Phase II regulations is based on population and urbanized area.

Six localities in Hampton Roads are subject to the requirements of the Phase I Stormwater Permit Regulations and are authorized to discharge stormwater from their MS4s under VSMP Individual Permits:

• City of Chesapeake
• City of Hampton
• City of Newport News
• City of Norfolk
• City of Portsmouth
• City of Virginia Beach

Five localities in Hampton Roads are subject to the requirements of the Phase II Stormwater Permit Regulations and are authorized to discharge stormwater from their MS4s under the VSMP General Permit:

• City of Poquoson
• City of Suffolk
• City of Williamsburg
• James City County
• York County

Stormwater Policy

HRPDC Water Resources staff provides local governments with information on stormwater-related legislative and regulatory activities that may impact local stormwater management programs, including permit compliance, negotiation, and renewals. Staff monitors legislation and regulatory activities for emerging issues and anticipates regional needs for coordination, comment, technical studies, and continuing program development. On behalf of the region’s localities, staff also serves on regulatory and technical advisory committees that guide new legislation and revisions to policies and regulations.

For example, staff has served on the state advisory committees for the following:

• Reissuance of the Phase II MS4 General Permit
• Reissuance of the Construction General Permit
• Stormwater Handbook
• Nutrient Trading Regulations
• Consolidated Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program – Legislation and Regulation(s)
• Evaluation of Fees Related to the Consolidated Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater Training

The localities have found value in combining resources to obtain, develop, and present stormwater training.   The Phase II MS4 permittees have developed a regional training plan, which focuses on IDDE, pollution prevention, and erosion and sediment control. 

HRPDC staff has developed a spreadsheet of online and in-person training opportunities that is updated weekly.  It includes stormwater, TMDLs, resiliency, and other topics of interest.  A recent example is available here; please contact staff if you are interested in receiving these.