Stormwater

Stormwater Complaints

Hotline: 540-542-1346

Report active illegal dumping of hazardous materials in storm drains immediately to 540-662-4131.

About Stormwater

As stormwater runoff flows over various surfaces such as streets, parking lots, rooftops and construction sites, it picks up debris, chemicals, sediment and other pollutants and carries them into local streams and rivers by way of the storm sewer system. Many citizens do not realize that stormwater drains are not connected to the City’s wastewater treatment system. Therefore, instead of being treated at a wastewater facility prior to discharge, the stormwater that enters these drains (along with all of the pollutants that they carry) flows directly to our nearby streams and ponds (such as Town Run or Abrams Creek). These pollutants adversely affect the water quality of our streams. Increased peak stormwater flows due to development can cause erosion and further degrade the health of the stream.

Stormwater pollutants originate from many different sources ranging from fuel and oil on roads, litter dropped on streets, fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and sediment from building sites. Typically for municipalities and urbanized areas, the most common pollutants associated with stormwater include sediment, nutrients, organic matter, bacteria, oils and greases, heavy metals, suspended solids, salts, litter and other debris.

Watershed

A watershed is an area of land where the majority of the stormwater drains into the nearby streams, rivers or creeks. Since all water runs downhill by the force of gravity, watershed boundaries are typically comprised of ridge tops or high elevation areas. A watershed can be very large and can cover several states, such as the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which encompasses portions of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Watersheds can also be very small, though, consisting of just a few small streams or wetlands area, much like the Opequon Creek watershed in Winchester.

The City of Winchester is located within the broad Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This means that all of the stormwater present in Winchester could eventually make its way to the Chesapeake Bay. However, the smaller watersheds within the City include the watersheds for Town Run, Abrams Creek, Hogue Run, Buffalo Lick Run and Redbud Run. All of these smaller watersheds eventually contribute to the Opequon Creek watershed.

After the Storm

After the Storm is a television show co-produced by The Weather Channel (TWC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provides more detailed information about stormwater management and watersheds.

Flooding

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster, but most Virginian's aren't prepared. Floods aren't limited to mapped flood risk areas or during hurricane season (June 1-November 30). Anywhere it can rain, it can flood.

Click here for flood preparedness and insurance information.

Report Illegal Dumping or Other Types of Pollution

Citizens are encouraged to call the appropriate “hotline” to report illegal dumping into storm drains (defined as “illicit discharges”) as well as less urgent issues such as general problems observed in the stormwater system.

Urgent issues include observing illegal dumping or spills of potentially toxic or hazardous materials and should be reported to 540-662-4131.

Less urgent issues should be reported to 540-542-1346 and include observations of erosion and sedimentation problems (sediment in streams or ponds or failing silt fences at construction sites), stormwater issues (such as flooding and drainage problems and/or stream or lake pollution demonstrated by odors, cloudy water, oil sheens, dead fish), and maintenance issues (such as clogged inlets associated with stormwater pipes and problems at stormwater ponds).

Stormwater Complaint Hotline Flyer

Preventing Pollution and Conserving Water

The most effective way to reduce stormwater pollution is to stop it entering the system in the first place. You can help reduce pollution and keep our environment clean by making simple changes in your daily lifestyle. Individuals can help reduce stormwater pollution through the following actions:

Proper disposal of household chemicals - Take unwanted household chemicals to hazardous waste collection centers. Do not pour them down the drain or discard with regular household trash.
Conserve fertilizers and pesticides - Minimize the use of fertilizer and do not apply immediately before heavy rainfall. Pesticides and insecticides can be toxic to humans, animals, aquatic insects and plants so carefully follow label directions or use alternatives whenever possible, such as traps, horticultural oils and insecticide soap.
Proper automobile care - Repair oil leaks from your car promptly. Recycle waste oil by taking it to a recycle center. Do not pour waste oil onto the ground or into a storm drain. Wash your car at a commercial car wash where the dirty water is treated and/or recycled. If you wash your car at home, use eco-friendly (non-phosphate) detergents.
Compost yard waste - Compost grass clippings, fallen leaves and yard trimmings. Alternatively, leave grass clippings on the lawn because they serve as a natural, nontoxic fertilizer. Never dispose of yard waste or leftover chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides) in the storm drain.
Pick up your pet's waste - Pet waste contains harmful bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform. Pick up pet waste and dispose in the garbage. Brochure: How pet waste affects our watershed
Do not feed geese in the park - Waterfowl can threaten human health through fecal matter when contaminated water or fecal droppings are ingested by inhalation of contaminated organisms. Feeding the geese in parks only makes the problem worse because it encourages them to stay. Brochure: Keep the Wild in Wildlife
Make your own rain barrel - See information below

Make Your Own Rain Barrel

During dry months, 40 percent of the average household's water consumption goes to outdoor watering. Rather than needlessly draining that water out of the faucet, gather rainfall in a rain barrel connected to the gutter system and use it to keep the lawn and garden green.

The benefits of rain barrels include the conservation of water (with the collection of rain water from roofs), saving money (by using collected water to water your garden and lawn for free) and reduction of stormwater runoff (by collecting and diverting runoff from storm drains).

Just an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof will accumulate over 600 gallons of fresh water.

Learn how to make your own rain barrel

Stream Cleanup Activities

Every day litter enters our streams via storm drains and illegal dumping. The City often organizes stream cleanup activities during community cleanup events and volunteers are needed to assist cleaning up this unsightly and dangerous litter.

Click here for more information about upcoming cleanup events.

Preventing Stormwater Pollution

The City of Winchester was designated by the State of Virginia as an “urbanized area” and was therefore required to obtain NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Phase II stormwater permit. The City has a separate storm sewer system that conveys only stormwater and is made up of streets with drainage systems, including curbs, gutters, catch basins, ditches, man-made channels, and storm sewers. The stormwater enters directly into receiving surface waters. With increases in impervious surfaces due to development and redevelopment, the quantity of stormwater typically increases and transports with it a typical spectrum of pollutants.

The separate storm sewer system is different from a combined system which collects both stormwater and sanitary sewer waste and conveys the combination to a wastewater treatment facility prior to discharge. Communities with combined sewer systems are typically challenged with undersized infrastructure and treatment facilities due to high peak flows associated with storm events.

As of March 2003, the City of Winchester is covered by a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for municipalities with separate storm sewer systems. This permit requires the development and implementation of a stormwater management program consisting of six key elements including:

Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts
Public Involvement/Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Post-construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

2018-2023 VPDES MS4 General Permit

Click here to view the current General Permit.

2019-2023 MS4 Permit Cycle

2019-2023 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program Plan - Download (15.4 MB)

2014-2018 MS4 Permit Cycle

2014-2018 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program Plan - Download

Please submit your feedback concerning the City's MS4 Program Plan or Annual Report by clicking the button below.

2009-2013 MS4 Permit Cycle

TMDL Action Plans

Other Resources

Contact

Kelly Henshaw, P.E.
City EngineerCity Engineer
Public Services Admin Building
City Yards
301 E. Cork Street
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 773-1340, ext. 1186
Email

Business Development Incentives

Stay Up to Date

Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center