In the months to come, the way we deal with runoff will be changing. The EPA is requiring cities to adopt new strategies to reduce pollutants discharged into local waterways. As part of the City of Wichita’s 2007 NPDES Storm Water Permit, the City has until October 2009 to approve a new storm water management policy to deal with the new requirements. The City’s new policy has been under development for over a year and will be considered by City Council for adoption soon. If approved, the new policy could take effect in Spring 2010.

By and large, the greatest changes will be in the form of the requirement of permanent BMPs (Best Management Practices).  Gone will be the day of directing unfiltered runoff to an inlet and piping it to a pond or into the storm sewer system.  Permanent BMPs will be required that help reduce the sediment and pollutants suspended in the runoff.  The overall policy will have a greater emphasis on water quality, while incorporating much of the former storm water policy.

Since the process began, Ruggles & Bohm has been involved.  Chris Bohm, PE has been a part of the Technical Advisory Committee and has been working with the Wichita Area Builders Association to keep the local development and builder community informed.

On this page, we have compiled a list of resources for you to use in order to find out more about the upcoming changes in the storm water ordinance.  And as always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like us to meet with you or make a presentation to your organization about the changes.

Ruggles & Bohm Resources

R&B Design Quarterly (FALL 2009)     CLICK HERE

The Quarterly is a publication of R&B that is put together to inform our clients and the development community of issues affecting it and how we can help.  The Fall 2009 issue focuses on the new Storm Water Management Ordinance.

In addition, we have put together a presentation that we can tailor to your needs.  Are you a developer?  A real estate agent?  A contractor?  An architect?  The presentation discusses the main points of the ordinance and also details some of the suggested permanent BMPs.  We can also discuss the impacts to site development using our experience in the City of Newton (KS), who enacted a similar ordinance in the Summer of 2009 and where we have already designed several projects using that ordinance as a guide.

City of Wichita Links

City of Wichita Storm Water Page    CLICK HERE

Storm Water Ordinance Presentation to City Council (July 28, 2009 City Council Workshop)    CLICK HERE

Storm Water Ordinance Presentation to City Council (October 27, 2009 City Council Workshop)    CLICK HERE

The October 27th presentation is particularly good at addressing common questions asked about the new ordinance and updates the proposed implementation schedule.

Other Cities with Similar Ordinances or Requirements

City of Newton (KS)    CLICK HERE

City of Topeka (KS)    CLICK HERE

City of Overland Park (KS)    CLICK HERE

Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) (Metro Kansas City)    CLICK HERE  This policy has been adopted by Overland Park.

Unified Govt. of Wyandotte County (KS) (Includes KCK)    CLICK HERE

City of Ft. Worth (TX)    CLICK HERE

City of Oklahoma City (OK)    CLICK HERE

City of Tulsa (OK)    CLICK HERE

Metropolitan St. Louis (MO) Sewer District    CLICK HERE

City of Colorado Springs (CO)    CLICK HERE

City of Loveland (CO)     CLICK HERE

Adams County (CO)    CLICK HERE

Knox County (TN)- Knoxville Area    CLICK HERE

Online Resources

EPA Post Construction Controls/ Model Ordinances    CLICK HERE

Storm Water Management Resource Center    CLICK HERE

City of Seattle Street Edge Alternatives (SEA Streets) Project    CLICK HERE

Low Impact Development

The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.    CLICK HERE

EPA Low Impact Development Resources    CLICK HERE

Urban Design Tools- Low Impact Development    CLICK HERE

"The Practice of Low Impact Development"- US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development    CLICK HERE

"Low Impact Development for Bog Box Retailers"- The Low Impact Development Center, Inc w/ Assistance from the EPA    CLICK HERE