Urban rain and snow-melt may carry pollutants from parking lots, streets, roofs of houses, and fertilized lawns. Even though municipal storm sewers are generally efficient at preventing flooding and diverting runoff water, they don't stop unfiltered contaminants from flowing to lakes and rivers. 
 

In order for Wisconsin to meet Clean Water Act standards, the governments enacted a permit system in February, 2003 for storm water runoff management in larger metropolitan areas, under Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 155. This regulates runoff from all major sources (i.e. construction sites, industrial facilities) in those areas. In Northeast Wisconsin, several agencies are working to reduce urban run-off.  These programs require many staff people to interact with local officials and implement controls. Unfortunately, the non-point programs have been chronically underfunded, and recent budget cuts have made the situation worse.

Links to More Information

• Wisconsin's Urban Runoff Management Rules

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/nps/pdf/rules/NR155FactSheet.pdf
 
• Apple and Ashwaubenon Creek Watersheds (Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources)

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/lowerfox/surfacewaterfiles/watersheds/lf02.html
 
• City of Appleton - Urban Stormwater Control Program

http://www.appleton.org/departments/public/stormwater/index.shtml
 
• Stormwater Management in Mequon, Wisconsin

http://www.ulaocreek.org/Newsletter/StormwaterManagement.htm
 
• Urban Non-point Pollution Controls  (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urban.html
 
• Wisconsin's New Non-Point Pollution Regulations - a legal summary

http://www.mbf-law.com/pubs/articles/566.cfm
 
• Controlling Runoff Pollution from Roads, Highways and Bridges  (U.S. EPA)

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/roads.html

• Urban Stormwater
• Construction Sites 
• Industrial Stormwater
• Roads
• Septic Systems
• Underground Storage Tanks
• Habitat Degradation

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