Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 Willmar, Minn. -- The city of Willmar and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and will hold a public information meeting at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, to discuss the city's proposed stormwater pollution prevention program (SWPPP). The meeting will be held at the Willmar Fire Station, 515 2nd St. S.W. Doors open at 3:45 with information displays available. The purpose of the meeting is to inform citizens about the requirements of the city's stormwater discharge permit, details of the proposed SWPPP, and to answer questions and respond to public comments. Stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution and excess surface runoff to 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 their municipal storm sewer system. The permit requires a stormwater pollution prevention program to reduce the discharge of pollutants from their storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable. Urban development substantially increases impervious surfaces, increasing runoff from city streets, driveways, parking lots, rooftops, and sidewalks. From 1990 to 2000 the amount of impervious surface in Willmar increased from 20 percent to 26 percent. New development since then has increased that amount; however, in 1999 the city enacted an ordinance requiring new development to control runoff. City storm sewers are separate from sanitary sewers and do not drain into municipal wastewater facilities, so stormwater runoff often does not receive treatment before discharging into lakes and streams. The new stormwater program aims to reduce, treat or recycle 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. The official public comment period on the plan ended Oct. 27. Any citizen may review the proposed stormwater pollution prevention program at Willmar City Hall, the Willmar Public Library or the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Willmar office, located at 1601 E. Hwy. 12. Copies may also be requested directly by calling Anna Kerr, MPCA, at 651-297-5219 or toll-free at 1-800-657-3864.