Storm Water Management Program

The Storm Water Management Authority, consisting of 21 municipalities, has contracted
with the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) to perform storm water monitoring,
sampling, laboratory analysis, erosion inspection, and education on behalf of its member
municipalities.

Each member municipality is required by the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) and the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit program to protect watersheds within their city limits.
The CWA is the cornerstone for watershed protection. To learn more about watersheds go to
http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/whatis.html

Pollutants carried by storm water degrade surface waters making them unsafe for drinking,
fishing, swimming, and other activities. As authorized by the CWA, the NPDES permit
program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into
waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or ditches.
The CWA requires factory and industrial operations utilizing discharge from a single
identifiable source to obtain a NPDES permit before emitting directly into surface waters.
In Jefferson County ADEM administers this permit program. ADEM issues permits to
companies allowing discharge by collecting samples from creeks and streams within
Jefferson County.

Program Activities:
  • Conduct water sampling to monitor prohibited pollutant discharges from entering
    a storm drain or stream
  • Analyze water samples to identify ‘Hot Spots’
  • Map high-risk areas in order to develop long term strategies
  • Monitor residential and commercial construction sites for proper erosion control
  • Promote public education on watersheds and resources for Best Management Practices

Storm water discharges are produced everywhere that water does not absorb into the ground
such as: roadways, paved streets or parking lots. Large amounts of rainfall can transmit
pollutants and have negative effect on water quality. JCDH will implement water quality
assessments and outreach activities to increase citizens’ awareness of pollutants that may
pose a threat to watershed protection.

Litter and toxic contaminants that storm water carries from parking lots, streets and road
ways contribute to water pollution. For a brochure on preventing storm water pollution,
click here. We all play a part in protecting our watersheds. To learn what you can do to
prevent litter contamination visit www.WhatisLitter.com.

To file an online complaint click here or call the storm water hotline number 205-930-1999.

Watershed data links: