MS4 Program

Program Overview

As a requirement of Federal Clean Water Act, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued an MS4 NPDES Urban permit to the City of Augusta and an MS4 NPDES Suburban permit to Richmond County in 1995 for a five-year period. A consolidated permit, Permit Number GAS000200, was reissued to Augusta-Richmond County in April 2000.

The Permit primarily requires Augusta to establish a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and a Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP). SWMP objective is to reduce Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution. NPS Pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS Pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground.

WQPM objective is to assess the health of various local watersheds and develop procedures to maintain water quality of Augusta’s streams.

Augusta SWMP Major Components

• SWM activity within drainage basin of impacted water-body
• Monitor illicit discharge from highly visible pollutant source
• Monitor pollutant from industrial activity
• Outreach and public education

Contact Us

For more information contact us at (706) 821-1706.

PUBLIC NOTICE:
Click here to view the "Notice of application for a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit for discharges from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to the waters of the State of Georgia".