Stormwater Management

Stormwater is challenging to manage in urbanized areas where runoff from rain events and melting snow can quickly flow over paved areas into our lakes, streams and rivers. This issue becomes especially important when stormwater collects and transports pollutants such as road salt, pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, antifreeze, animal waste, and litter into our surface waters impacting water quality, wildlife, and recreational areas.

In March 2003, the City of Troy developed a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to comply with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program and a Notice of Intent (NOI) was submitted, allowing the City to discharge stormwater under a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination Program (SPDES). The City of Troy has been working with Rensselaer county and local governments to help control storm water run-off and try to educate and inform the public about stormwater.

As required by the MS4 Program, below you will find links to local laws that have been approved. The Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination that prohibits illicit discharges, activities and connections to the storm sewer system, the Erosion and Sediment Control, promotes public welfare by guiding, regulating, and controlling the design, construction, use, and maintenance of any land development activity as it relates to erosion and sedimentation control and stormwater management.

If you have any questions or concerns about the stormwater program for the City of Troy, please send your comments to the email of Chris Wheland. If you know of an illicit discharge or connection, please contact 518-237-0611 immediately. Below are informational links to help you better understand stormwater.

• IDDE Local Law (PDF)
  Prohibits Illicit discharges, activities and connections to City of Troy Separate Storm Sewer System.
• MS4s Permit Number GP-0-10-002 (PDF)
  Was developed to control stormwater drainage and runoff from land development activities.
• Sediment and Erosion Control Law (PDF)
  SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems.
• Annual Report

For more information on how you or your business can help accomplish the City’s Stormwater Management Program, download the following US EPA brochures.