Since 1991 the City of Madison has been involved in permitting stormwater discharge from our separate municipal storm sewer system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made this a requirement as part of the Clean Water Act. The City's first permit application was due in January 1993 and our first discharge permit was issued by the Wisconsin – more... Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in July 1995. This permit was valid for 5 years, though it has been extended annually. Initially only Madison, Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison were required to obtain this type of permit.
The discharge permit from the WDNR/EPA included certain terms the City must meet including monitoring stormwater discharge and reporting on existing activities like street sweeping, leaf collection, and salt use.
The monitoring requirement has been the most significant aspect of the permit regarding cost and data acquisition. The City of Madison chose to go beyond the minimum monitoring requirements of the federal register code as no new information would have been gained. In cooperation with the WDNR, the City chose to study and monitor specific stormwater management practices for their effectiveness in reducing pollutants in receiving waters. While this decision cost more than performing the minimum requirements, valuable data has been provided as a result.
These studies have included (1) an examination of the Stormceptor® treatment device, (2) a study of phosphorus sources in residential neighborhoods, (3) a study and calibration of a developing 10 mi2 watershed on the west side of Madison, and (4) a look at the effectiveness of once weekly sweeping in residential neighborhoods.
The State of Wisconsin has adopted stormwater discharge codes since 1995 that are more stringent than EPA regulations. As a result, many communities surrounding Madison have been required to obtain a stormwater discharge permit. Since the City of Madison needed a new permit, we offered to be the lead municipality for a group of the following Dane County municipalities:
Cities
Fitchburg
Madison
Middleton
Monona
Sun Prairie
Verona – less – More from ZoomInfo »
City of Madison Employer Reviews
Working at City of Madison
What are the average starting salaries, bonuses, benefits and travel requirements like at City of Madison?
What do you like best about working at City of Madison? Are the...
It's always hard to know what to expect when going in for that interview -- and preparation can make all the difference. What is the interview process like at City of Madi...
Every business has its own style. What is the office environment and culture like at City of Madison?
Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-o...
Do you work at City of Madison? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?
Any advice for someone trying to get in?
What do you think - will City of Madison grow fast? Are they expanding their staff? How does City of Madison stack up against the competition?
