Stormwater Inspections

The management of stormwater runoff from construction sites during and after construction is vital to controlling the impacts of development on urban water quality. As our city expands, the amount of impervious surfaces increase, thus creating more stormwater runoff that has to be carried to our local rivers and streams. Impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads, parking lots, and sidewalks create stormwater runoff that has to go somewhere. Runoff from impervious surfaces can contain a variety of pollutants that are harmful to water quality, including sediment, nutrients, road salts, oils, gasoline, etc.

Erosion Control During Development

During construction, measures must be taken to limit the amount of sedimentation and erosion that occurs. North Carolina has a Sedimentation Control Law that prohibits visual off-site sedimentation from construction sites. This law permits the owner and developer to determine the most economical, effective methods for erosion and sedimentation control. The law requires the developer to plan activities carefully, considering their erosion potential.

Types of erosion controls commonly seen in active construction sites:

• Land Grading
• Surface Roughening
• Topsoiling
• Tree Preservation and Protection
• Temporary Gravel Construction Entrance and Exit
• Temporary Seeding
• Permanent Seeding
• Sodding
• Planting Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Ground Covers
• Mulching
• Riprap
• Rolled Erosion Control Products
• Temporary Diversions
• Permanent Diversions
• Grass-lined Channels
• Riprap-lined and Paved Channels
• Temporary Slope Drains
• Paved Flumes
• Outlet Stabilization Structure
• Block and Gravel Inlet Protection
• Sod Drop Inlet Protection
• Rock Doughnut Inlet Protection
• Rock Pipe Inlet Protection
• Temporary Sediment Trap
• Sediment Basin
• Sediment (Silt) Fence
• Rock Dam
• Baffles
• Temporary Stream Crossing
• Permanent Stream Crossing
• Buffer Zones
• Construction Road Stabilization

Throughout the construction process, Stormwater inspectors will be visiting sites to determine if the erosion control measures used are adequate, and in working order. They will also be inspecting any best management practices to ensure they are in working order, and that they can handle the post construction stormwater runoff. If there are any concerns about erosion control on a construction site, please call the Stormwater Hotline at 910-433-1613.

Stormwater regulations define an "illicit discharge" as any "discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) that is not composed entirely of stormwater".

The City of Fayetteville has an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination program in place to handle illicit discharges into the storm drainage system. This program includes monitoring and inspecting industrial activities, water sampling, ordinance enforcement and education.

Common types of discharges into the storm sewer system include:

• Car wash fluids
• Lawn debris
• Lawn fertilizers and pesticides
• Washdown from restaurant grease traps
• Automotive fluids

An illicit connection is any connection that is illegally made to the storm drainage system. This can be a hose discharging fluid directly into the storm drain or a pipe illegally connected to the storm drainage system. Citizens, who see anything unusual in or around a storm drain, should call the City's Stormwater Hotline at 910-433-1613.

Once an illicit discharge is reported, a stormwater inspector is assigned to the case. The stormwater inspector is given authority to investigate and impose fines regarding illicit discharges by the Stormwater Management Ordinance, Chapter 23 Article 2 Sections 23-9 through 23-19.1. Civil penalties will be issued to anyone found illegally dumping into the storm drainage system. A schedule of these fees can be found on the Stormwater Management Ordinance Page.

It is through this program that the City's Stormwater Division can help to prevent stormwater pollution, by detecting illicit discharges into the storm drainage system. Citizens of the City of Fayetteville are encouraged to help the Stormwater Division by reporting illicit discharges, and by being conscientious about what goes on around them. We can all do our part to become the solution to stormwater pollution.

What is a Stormwater Control Measure?

Stormwater control measures are designed to remove pollutants from urban runoff, improve water quality, and control quantity before the water reaches our rivers and streams.

There are two categories of SCMs, "structural" and "non-structural". Non-structural SCMs have no physical structures associated with them, and they are designed to limit the amount of pollutants that could end up in stormwater runoff. Non-structural SCMs can include minimizing the amount impervious area for site development, providing a vegetative buffer along local water bodies, incorporating existing landscape features in a site plan, and educational outreach programs. Non-structural SCMs tend to be less costly than structural SCMs, and can work with structural SCMs to lessen the amount of stormwater runoff that would need to be treated.

Structural SCMs are permanent fixtures that are  constructed to treat stormwater runoff. Structural SCMs are part of a comprehensive plan to reduce stormwater pollution. Without structural SCMs, pollution from urban runoff would directly enter Fayetteville's rivers and streams, which would harm aquatic life and potentially degrade the quality of drinking water.  The City of Fayetteville often refers to the North Carolina Stormwater Design manual issued by the North Carolina Department of Department of Environmental Quality for approved stormwater control measures.