Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Willmar, Minn. - The annual public meeting for the city of Willmar's stormwater permit and stormwater pollution prevention program will be held during the City Council meeting beginning at 7 p.m., Monday, June 16 at the Municipal Utilities meeting room, 700 Litchfield Ave. S.W. The purpose of the meeting is to give an update on the status of the city's compliance with requirements in its municipal separate storm sewer system permit, and the implementation of the city's stormwater pollution prevention program. The latter can be viewed at City Hall, 333 6th St. S.W. Citizens may submit oral or written comments prior to or at the annual meeting. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution in streams and lakes. Instead of percolating naturally through soils and recharging ground water, rainfall can be quickly deflected by roads, parking lots, roofs and other impervious surfaces. This can cause erosion of sensitive stream channels and loss of habitat needed by fisheries and their food web. Common pollutants in stormwater runoff include trash, bacteria, nutrients, pesticides, heavy metals, salt, sediment and fuels. Willmar is one of 243 cities in Minnesota required by state and federal rule to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the discharge of stormwater from municipal separate storm sewer systems. The permit requires a stormwater pollution prevention program to reduce the discharge of pollutants from their storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable. City storm sewers are separate from sanitary sewers and do not drain into municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Stormwater runoff often does not receive treatment before discharging into lakes and streams. The new stormwater program aims to reduce, treat or recycle stormwater runoff with stormwater ponds, rain gardens, or other urban stormwater management practices. The permit includes measures to improve public involvement and education, reduce pollutants in stormwater, improve erosion controls on construction sites, and incorporate stormwater pollution prevention and "good-housekeeping" practices.