The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program to minimize the discharge of contaminates into surface waters. The Separate Storm Sewer is a system of underground pipes and surface drainage that carry rainwater and snowmelt away from roads and parking lots. Ultimately this drainage reaches our lakes and rivers. In accordance with the EPA requirements, the Town of Milford is implementing and enforcing a stormwater management program designed to reduce polluted stormwater runoff. Six minimum control measures are required by the EPA:

We encourage residents to review the town Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) document provided in the Resources section of this webpage. The SWMP describes and details the activities and measures that will be implemented to meet the terms and conditions of the EPA MS4 Permit. Please feel free to ask questions or provide input on the program.  

All questions and comments should be emailed to townengineer@milford.nh.gov. 

Thank you! 

MS4: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System

Illegal/Illicit discharge: any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer system (storm drains, catch basins, ditches) that is not fully composed of stormwater

If you notice anything unusual such as discoloration, unnatural odors, turbidity, oil sheen, etc. in a catch basin or water that is flowing into the stormwater system or surface water, please mention it to the Highway Foreman, DPW Director, or Town Engineer. 

One of the goals of the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Plan is to educate people so they can be better informed about where the stormwater is going. Once a suspected prohibited discharge is reported, the area will be checked out and reviewed more than once if necessary. If it is determined that the discharge is regular or deliberate, a brochure/flier/post card or other type of educational piece of information will be sent to the general area of residents to let them know where the stormwater ends up and that we do monitor the stormwater system.

See the attached Milford IDDE Plan under the Resources section below.

A municipal compliance inspector has the authority to place the burden of demonstrating compliance on the site operator, or contractor, to the greatest extent possible. Activities and documentation as provided for in the attached section may be performed or completed by either the site operator’s inspector or a municipal inspector, so the general terms “construction site inspector” and “inspector” have been used.

 

The role of the construction site inspector is to ensure that site operations match the approved site plans and the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the project, and that all precautions are taken to prevent pollutants and sediment from the construction site from impacting local waterways. The inspector is also expected to determine the adequacy of construction site stormwater quality control measures.

 

Minimum focus areas of appropriate sediment and erosion control measures for construction sites include local requirements to:

 

All construction sites greater than 1 acre that discharge stormwater off-site are subject to the Construction General Permit (CGP) administered by the EPA. This permit requires a contractor to have their own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and use a third-party inspector to conduct SWPPP investigations.