The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the City through the regulation of non-storm water discharges to the storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable, as required by Federal law. This chapter establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the City storm sewer system in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. It is further noted that:
1. The U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit program (Program) administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”) requires that cities meeting certain demographic and environmental impact criteria obtain from the IDNR an NPDES permit for the discharge of storm water from a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) (MS4 Permit). The City is subject to the Program and is required to obtain, and has obtained, an MS4 Permit; the City’s MS4 Permit is on file at the office of the City Clerk and is available for public inspection during regular office hours.
2. As a condition of the City’s MS4 Permit, the City is obliged to adopt and enforce an ILLICIT DISCHARGE TO STORM SEWER SYSTEM ordinance.
3. No State or Federal funds have been made available to assist the City in administering and enforcing the Program. Accordingly, the City shall fund its operations under this chapter entirely by charges imposed on the owners of properties which are made subject to the Program by virtue of State and Federal law, and/or other sources of funding established by a separate ordinance.
4. Unless otherwise defined in this chapter, terms used have the meanings specified in the Program.