Stormwater Management

Billerica has been regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in Massachusetts since 2003. The most recent General Permit went into effect in 2018 and regulates the discharge of stormwater runoff that is transported through municipal drainage systems into local waterbodies.

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is the runoff water from rain and snowmelt and has been identified by the EPA as the number one contributor to overland pollution of our streams, ponds, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Stormwater enters storm drains from paved or impervious surfaces, such as roads, parking lots, driveways, and rooftops, and underground pipes channel the flow directly to the closest waterbody, usually with little or no treatment. This contributes large amounts of polluted stormwater to waterways, including the Concord River, the Shawsheen River, Nutting Lake, and Winning Pond, as well as wetland resource areas. Keeping stormwater clean not only benefits our neighborhood and community, it benefits the entire network of waterbodies and land that make up our watershed.

The webpages linked to the left provide more information about what the Town of Billerica has been doing to manage stormwater, and provide additional information about how you can help.