Annual Stormwater Report

Polluted stormwater runoff is commonly transported through municipal separate storm sewer systems, also called MS4s, which are conveyances designed to collect stormwater through drains, pipes or ditches. The collected water is often then discharged, untreated, into local water bodies, such as the Hudson River.

To help prevent harmful pollutants from being washed into its MS4, the City of Kingston is required to maintain a State Pollutants Discharge Elimination (SPDES) permit, and operate a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) according to this permit. The SWMP describes the control practices that are implemented to minimize the discharge of pollutants.

Kingston's SWMP continues to develop with the assistance of our Conservation Advisory Council. This group of community volunteers offers guidance on Climate Smart Community (CSC) and Adaptation Planning Initiatives, among many other important environmental practices.

Every year our Engineering Department compiles and publishes an MS4 Stormwater Report as is required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This report details the activities and measures the City has conducted to reduce polluted discharge.

Reported measures include education and outreach about topics from recycling, pesticide use, and hazardous waste disposal to smart growth, wetland protection, and water conservation. The report also addresses specific actions such as street maintenance, salt storage and marine operations, among many other items.

We invite the community to review this year's Stormwater Report, which is located as a downloadable PDF under Documents to the right. The report will continue to be accessible on EngageKingston until our next one is completed and posted for public comment in spring 2021.

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