Storm Water
This division inspects and maintains all city storm water sewer mains, gutters, drain ways, catch basins, and detention ponds as needed to ensure proper operation under design conditions. This division also inspects construction sites to ensure compliance with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sediment and erosion permit requirements.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit information
EPA Stormwater Information
MPCA Stormwater Information
Toolkit for construction activities
The purpose of this Ordinance is to control or eliminate Storm Water pollution along with soil erosion and sedimentation within the City through requirements and standards for conservation practices and planning activities.
The tool used to ensure erosion and sediment control on construction sites is through the use of a City-issued Grading Permit. A Grading Permit is required for any project, which disturbs an area of greater than or equal to one acre. Requirements of the Grading Permit application include, but are not limited to:
a) A site area map showing drainage and adequate erosion and sedimentation BMPs (Best Management Practices) to control runoff from disturbed areas.
b) Maintenance and Inspection frequencies.
c) Temporary and final stabilization techniques.
d) A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Sheet included with project plans per MPCA NPDES General Permit for Construction requirements.
The Ordinance also regulates wetlands and the areas around wetlands. Wetlands maintain water quality and are critical to Storm Water management. Wetlands must be delineated to determine functional value or quality. Wetlands are classified as High, Medium or Low quality based on the MNRAM Assessment (Minnesota Routine Assessment Method). Buffer strip widths and setbacks are required dependant upon wetland classification. Wetland buffer strips are to be untouched and left in a natural state to allow runoff to be filtered before discharging to the wetland itself. Buffer strip signage is required at all property corners adjacent to the wetland in new developments.
For the Grading Permit Application see the Public Works Department's Permits & Applications page.
Stormwater Polution Prevention Program (pdf)
What's New
- Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) — 2/17/2009
- Surface Water Management Plan (PDF)
- SWMP Figures (PDF) — Large File: 3MB
- SWMP Focus Areas (PDF) — Large File: 8MB
Stormwater Issues for City of Faribault Residents
The City of Faribault working alone cannot be as successful in preventing stormwater pollution as if it has the contribution, participation, and efforts of residents in the community all working towards the same goal. The following links are available to help spread the message on preventing stormwater pollution and to promote volunteer community actions to restore and protect local water resources.Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit information
Stormwater Issues for Contractors, Developers, and Builders
Construction sites within the City of Faribault are required to have proper erosion and sedimentation controls to ensure sediments stay on-site and not in our lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands. It is the contractors, developers and builders responsibility to make certain controls are in place to protect our surface waters. The following links are intended to provide more information about the necessity and requirements of the construction site runoff control program.EPA Stormwater Information
MPCA Stormwater Information
Toolkit for construction activities
Stormwater Ordinance and Grading Permit
(From Section 28 of the City Code.)The purpose of this Ordinance is to control or eliminate Storm Water pollution along with soil erosion and sedimentation within the City through requirements and standards for conservation practices and planning activities.
The tool used to ensure erosion and sediment control on construction sites is through the use of a City-issued Grading Permit. A Grading Permit is required for any project, which disturbs an area of greater than or equal to one acre. Requirements of the Grading Permit application include, but are not limited to:
a) A site area map showing drainage and adequate erosion and sedimentation BMPs (Best Management Practices) to control runoff from disturbed areas.
b) Maintenance and Inspection frequencies.
c) Temporary and final stabilization techniques.
d) A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Sheet included with project plans per MPCA NPDES General Permit for Construction requirements.
The Ordinance also regulates wetlands and the areas around wetlands. Wetlands maintain water quality and are critical to Storm Water management. Wetlands must be delineated to determine functional value or quality. Wetlands are classified as High, Medium or Low quality based on the MNRAM Assessment (Minnesota Routine Assessment Method). Buffer strip widths and setbacks are required dependant upon wetland classification. Wetland buffer strips are to be untouched and left in a natural state to allow runoff to be filtered before discharging to the wetland itself. Buffer strip signage is required at all property corners adjacent to the wetland in new developments.
For the Grading Permit Application see the Public Works Department's Permits & Applications page.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program
Polluted stormwater runoff is often transported to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) and ultimately discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. The City of Faribault, as an MS4, has prepared a five year Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to reduce pollutant discharge to the maximum extent practicable as required by the EPA.Stormwater Polution Prevention Program (pdf)
