Clean Water Current

(April 17, 2018) - NACWA participated in a set of stormwater-centric meetings last week hosted by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). NACWA and WEF have restored their quarterly municipal stormwater meetings that focus discussions on current trends and challenges for the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater community.

During the meetings, NRPA convened its first-ever green infrastructure policy working group that focused specifically on bringing together different national organizations and better understanding their respective stormwater programs and legislative advocacy initiatives. In both of these meetings, which included representatives from the broader water sector and NGO community, NACWA highlighted some of its recent stormwater advocacy issues such as the MS4 Stormwater Permitting Guide and the Association’s ongoing support for municipalities to adhere to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) standard under the Clean Water Act.

The Natural Resources Defense Council also announced that it released a new issue brief on how effective stormwater utility fees can create jobs, build infrastructure, and drive investment in local communities. The resource aims to help municipalities “demystify the stormwater fee” structure, and how municipalities can leverage these funds to cover the full cost of operating stormwater pollution control programs while simultaneously improving water quality.