Stormwater Management Program (SWMP)

The US EPA and MassDEP require Municipalities with Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas (through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit) to implement programs and practices to control polluted stormwater runoff. Wayland is regulated as a Phase II community.  Phase II is intended to further reduce adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic habitat by instituting the use of controls on the unregulated sources of stormwater discharges that have the greatest likelihood of causing continued environmental degradation. 

As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.