Glossary

Basin: An area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water also known as a watershed. i.e. Lake Champlain Basin

Best Management Practices (BMPs): The most effective and practical ways to control non-point sources of pollution from stormwater/urban runoff.

Catch basins: (also called Storm Drains) Curbside opening that collects rainwater from streets and serves as an entry point to the storm drain system.

First flush: The first flush of a rain event is comprised of the initial surge of runoff. During this phase, water pollution is typically more concentrated when compared to the remainder of the storm. Accordingly, this concentration of urban runoff results in higher levels of pollutants transported to the storm drain system. Capturing the first flush of an event often provides the majority of treatment needed to meet water quality standards.

Flood control channel: The open portion (often concrete-lined) of the storm drain system.

Gutter: The edge of a street (below the curb) designed to drain water runoff from streets, driveways and parking lots into catch basins.

Household hazardous waste: Common everyday products that people use in and around their homes including paint, paint thinner, herbicides, and pesticides that, due to their chemical nature, can be hazardous if not properly disposed.

Illicit discharge: Any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater runoff except discharges pursuant to a discharge permit, other than the permit for discharges from the MS4 and discharges from firefighting activities

Illicit connection: Any connection to the storm drain system that is not permitted: or any legitimate connection that is used for illegal discharge.

Impaired waterbody: A waterbody (i.e. streams, lakes) with recurring monitored violations of a numeric or narrative water quality standard

Impervious Cover: Any type of surface that does not absorb rainfall. i.e. rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots

MS4: Municipal Separate Storm System is a system of conveyances that is designed to collect/convey stormwater and is owned by a state, city, town, village or other public entity that discharges to water of the United States.

Non-point source pollution: Pollution that does not come from a single, identifiable source. Includes materials that wash from roofs, streets, yards, driveways, sidewalks and other land areas. Collectively, this is the largest source of stormwater pollution.

NPDES: The federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permitting program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Outfall: A flow of water from one drainage system into a larger system, or into a body of water such as a stream, river, pond or lake.

Pervious Cover: Any type of surface that allows rainfall to be absorbed i.e. grass, gardens

Point source pollution: Pollution from a single identifiable source such as a factory or a sewage-treatment plant. Most of this pollution is highly regulated at the state and local levels.

Pollution prevention: The NPDES Permit defines this as including planning, schedules of activities, prohibition of practices, implementation of maintenance procedures and other management practices to prevent or reduce pollutants in stormwater/urban runoff discharges.

RSEP: The Regional Stormwater Educational Program is a collaborative effort between nine Chittenden County towns, (Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Milton, Winooski, Shelburne, and Williston), the Burlington International Airport, and the University of Vermont. Non-voting partners include: Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Champlain Water District.

Source Control: Action to prevent pollution where it originates.

Storm drain system: A vast network of underground pipes, open channels, treatment systems and outfalls designed to manage stormwater runoff.

Stormwater: Stormwater runoff is caused by precipitation from rain and snowmelt events which flow over land or impervious surfaces and is unable to infiltrate into the ground. In natural systems, precipitation may be directly infiltrated subsurface, stored in natural depressions, and reintroduced to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Development alters this native state and replaces it with impervious cover including heavily landscaped areas (such as lawns and playgrounds), roads, sidewalks, paved driveways and roofs.

Stormwater pollution: Untreated runoff which transports pollutants (cigarette butts, trash, automotive fluids, used oil, paint, fertilizers and pesticides, lawn and garden clippings and pet waste) from impervious surfaces such as streets, parking lots, driveways and yards and carries them through the storm drain system.

TMDL: Total Maximum Daily Load places a cap on the maximum amount of a specific pollutant that is allowed to enter a water body that will allow the body of water to still meet water quality standards.

Watershed: A watershed is a drainage area that collects water and drains it into a receiving water body such as a stream, river, pond or lake.