Our storm water drainage system is a network of underground pipes, ditches and bayous throughout our business districts and neighborhoods designed to carry off excess storm water to the Red River, Red Chute Bayou and tributaries. This runoff is not treated in any manner prior to its entry to these waterways. Therefore, to keep pollutants from the rivers and streams, we must keep pollutants from the entire storm water drainage network.
Control Measures
Because urban runoff is a major cause of water quality impairment, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued a second phase of storm water regulations (MS4 Phase II). In conjunction with these mandated regulations the State of Louisiana has issued a Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit to the City of Bossier City. The City is responsible to prevent/reduce pollutants from entering our waterways. To that end a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) was developed to reduce discharge of pollutants to the storm water sewer system to the maximum extent practicable to protect water quality. The plan addresses six minimum control measures identified and required by the Environmental Protection Agency as necessary to protect surface waters. The six minimum control measures are:
- Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control Coming Soon!
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
- Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New Development and Redevelopment Coming Soon!
- Public Education and Outreach
- Public Involvement/Participation