The City of Stow is charged with managing the City's stormwater system, which includes 56,500 linear feet of storm sewer pipe, 281 stormwater discharge points that must be inspected, and 252 stormwater management facilities (retention and detention ponds, water quality ponds, bio-swales, etc.) inspected yearly.
The staff is continually improving and making repairs on existing storm sewers, evaluating drainage concerns, and addressing new problem areas that arise. The City must abide by the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) requirements established by the EPA, and must be in compliance with NPDES permit requirements.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Program
The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program is heading towards completion in the City of Stow. As part of the requirements for cities like Stow, the program requires that the City meet six "minimum control measures" as listed below:
- Public Education and Awareness
- Public Participation and Involvement
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction Site Runoff
- Control Post-Construction Site Runoff
- Control Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
The City of Stow is working with the Summit County Engineer's Office, Summit Soil and Water Conservation District, Summit County Health Department, and other government entities to meet the EPA's requirements.
Pond Maintenance Private Property
Residents that have a stormwater facility on their property that requires inspection and maintenance, are responsible for completing maintenance to bring the facility into compliance. These facilities could include detention or retention ponds, bio-swales, bio-retention areas, or other best management practices (BMPs) approved by the Ohio EPA. For information about private property pond maintenance,