In 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed what is commonly called The Clean Water Act. This act provided the basic structure for improving the quality of the waters of the United States by regulating discharges of pollutants. The Clean Water Act contains the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program which regulates stormwater runoff.
The NPDES Phase II program requires that regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), such as the City of Cañon City, must reduce the amount of pollutants in their stormwater discharge as much as possible to protect water quality.
In Colorado, the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issues stormwater permits and oversees the program through the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and the Colorado Discharge Permit Regulations. The stormwater permits require the development and implementation of a stormwater management program that addresses the following six program areas:
- Public Education and Outreach
- Public Participation and Involvement
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Stormwater Construction
- Post-Construction Program
- Muncipal Good Housekeeping Operations
The City of Cañon City administers a general permit for stormwater discharges associated with Municipal Separate Storm Systems (MS4) in accordance with Colorado’s Discharge Permit System (CDPS). The City of Cañon City maintains a Program Description Document that is available upon request to the public for review and comment.