Storm Water

Overview

Part of our commitment to serving the residents of Goffstown includes providing information that helps them to make more informed decisions about water quality issues and the public’s responsibilities in protecting surface water quality for current and future generations. This section of the Town’s website is a resource we hope you’ll find both useful and interesting. We genuinely hope this site is helpful to you in learning more about our Federal, State, and Town-driven responsibilities.

Stormwater

 Stormwater is a term used to describe the water that originates during precipitation events.  It may also apply to water that originates with snowmelt or runoff water from overwatering that enters the stormwater system.  Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff, which either flows directly into surface waterways or is channeled in storm sewers, which eventually discharge to surface waters. In addition to washing pollutants into our surface waters, improperly managed stormwater runoff can result in soil erosion and flooding.

Contacts

If you have any questions regarding the stormwater within the Town of Goffstown, NH, please contact: 

• Eric Gustafson
• Engineering Technician
• Goffstown Public Works Department 
  404 Elm Street 
  Goffstown, NH 03045
• Phone: 603-497-3617
• Fax: 603-497-5700
• Follow us on Facebook

Be Water Smart & Money Smart

Ever think why is my water bill so high? What is that drip noise? Read the "Fixing Leaks" tab given to you for some quick water statistics and a three-step check for your house to save water and money!

Fixing Leaks

• Fixing Leaks (PDF)

See the link given for some DIY tips to make your yard water-smart and money-smart.

• DIY Stormwater Good Housekeeping (PDF)

Illicit Discharge

Learn about what's polluting our water and how you can reduce your impact. Common pollutants can be easily disposed of without affecting the stormwater system and impairing bodies of water in our town. Learn how to manage pollutants and household hazardous waste.

• Illicit Discharge PowerPoint (PDF)

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (Ms4) General Permit

Please visit the following links for further information regarding Small MS4s:

• NH DES - MS4 General Permit Page
• NH DES - Surface Water Quality Assessment Program
• US EPA - NH Small MS4 General Permit Page
• Goffstown Designated MS4 Area (PDF)

Information for Engineers & Contractors

Stormwater information for engineers and contractors completing construction projects within the Town of Goffstown.

Topics

• Forms
• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
• Threatened and Endangered Species
• Cultural Resources
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Town Regulations

Introduction

The Federal Water Quality Act of 1987 recognized that runoff from urban areas and industrial sites contributed to the pollution of surface waters. It required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address stormwater discharges using a two-phased approach. The Phase I final regulations were published in November of 1990. The Phase II final regulations were published in December of 1999.

In Phase I, the EPA required medium to large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) operators to obtain permit coverage. These MS4s generally served areas with populations of 100,000 or more. Dischargers of "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity" were also required to apply for permits.  

Phase II regulates small municipal separate storm sewer system (Small MS4) discharges in Urban Areas (UA), stormwater discharge associated with construction activity of one acre of greater, and municipally owned industrial activities. A "small" MS4 is any MS4 not already covered by Phase I of the NPDES Stormwater Program. Goffstown has been designated as falling within EPA's urban area definition for Phase II permitting.

Phase II of the stormwater program automatically applies to all construction activities disturbing one or more acres of land. These sites must receive an NPDES Permit before any earthmoving activities begin. EPA may require construction sites disturbing less than one acre of land to obtain a stormwater discharge permit if such activities would adversely affect water quality.

To comply with Phase II of the stormwater program, please follow the steps:

• Determine which parties are considered "operators" responsible for complying with the Phase II requirements.
• An "operator" of a construction site, such as a developer, maintains overall operational control over construction plans and specifications, including the ability to change these plans and specifications. An operator can also maintain day-to-day operational control over activities that will ensure compliance with the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), such as the general contractor or subcontractor.
• Complete and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before construction activities that will cause land disturbance begin.
• Develop a SWPPP before the start of construction. The DWP does not need to be submitted to the EPA but must be kept on the construction site and accessible to everyone during construction activities.
• Implement the SWPPP, including completion of inspection reports that must be kept on-site.
• Complete final stabilization of the site.

Complete and submit a Notice of Termination (Not) to EPA when any of the following occurs:

• After the land-disturbing activities are complete and the site has been finally stabilized, the operator should terminate his coverage under the permit by completing the NOT form and submitting to the EPA. The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers that a site has been finally stabilized when all land-disturbing activities are complete and a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of 70% of the cover for unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures has been established or equivalent permanent stabilization measures have been used.
• The permittee is no longer an operator of the site.

Forms

Notice of Intent (NOI)

If a project disturbs over one acre of ground or is one part of a larger project that ultimately impacts over one acre of ground, a Notice of Intent (NOI) is required to be completely researched, filled out, and submitted to the EPA, either electronically via the internet or by hard copy with over-land delivery (US Postal Service or an express delivery service company). If the NOI is submitted and the required items of concern on the form have not been properly reviewed to determine if they would be impacted by the project, the applicant and all pertinent parties associated with them (engineer, contractor, etc.) may be found to be liable for breaking all relevant Federal laws. It behooves all parties to ensure that they have done their due diligence before submitting the NOI.

To submit a NOI, use this link to obtain EPA's NOI materials and forms:

• EPA's eNOI Home Page

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

As stated by NHDES, "The Federal Water Pollution Control Act [PL92-500, commonly called the Clean Water Act (CWA)], as last reauthorized by the Water Quality Act of 1987, requires each state to submit two surface water quality documents to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every two years. Section 305(b) of the CWA requires the submittal of a report (commonly called the "305(b) Report"), that describes the quality of its surface waters and an analysis of the extent to which all such waters provide for the protection and propagation of a balanced population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and allow recreational activities in and on the water.

The second document is typically called the "303(d) List," which is so named because it is a requirement of Section 303(d) of the CWA. The 303(d) List includes surface waters that are:

• Impaired or threatened by a pollutant or pollutant(s).
• Not expected to meet water quality standards within a reasonable time even after application of best available technology standards for point sources or best management practices for nonpoint sources.
• Require development and implementation of a comprehensive water quality study which is designed to meet water quality standards. NHDES Water Quality Assessments and TMDL page.

Threatened & Endangered Species

Before the submittal of the NOI, the applicant must coordinate with the NH Natural Heritage Bureau and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the proposed project will not affect federally listed Threatened and Endangered Species.

Cultural Resources  

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires that any project that uses Federal monies or requires a Federal permit or approval must allow the State Historic Preservation Office (the NH Division of Historical Resources [NHDHR] in NH, an opportunity to review the entire project’s imp--acts on cultural resources (both archaeological and historical concerns). A memo or letter from NHDHR that states they have no concerns with the project should be obtained before the submittal of the NOI to EPA. Signing the NOI without finding out the project’s impacts on cultural resources may leave the applicant open to substantial legal liability.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

A SWPPP must include the following information

• Site description and design plans identifying potential sources of pollution that may affect the quality of stormwater discharges.
• Appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs), including erosion, sediment, and stormwater management controls to minimize the discharge of pollutants from the site.
• Description of steps taken to prevent and control pollutants in stormwater discharge from the site, including an inspection schedule of all disturbed, unsterilized areas and maintenance of all controls to ensure their proper operation.
• EPA SWPPP materials and forms

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

BMPs are schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices designed to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, waste disposal, or drainage from raw sewage. BMPs may include structural devices or nonstructural practices.

BMP Reference Materials

• EPA's National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices
• New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Stormwater Manual

Town Regulations

The Town of Goffstown has specific site development regulations that establish set requirements for site designs within the Town. The site design and development criteria may be found at the link given:

• Developmental and Zoning Regulations

Contacts

If you have any questions regarding the stormwater permitting process within the Town of Goffstown, NH, please contact the Engineering or Administration offices at DPW.

• Goffstown Public Works Department
  404 Elm Street
  Goffstown, NH 03045
• Phone: 603-497-3617
• Fax: 603-497-5700