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Stormwater Management
Stormwater management, permitting, and pollution control is a major priority for the University of Maryland. The College Park campus is centrally located within the Anacostia Watershed and discharges stormwater to 3 tributaries. Stormwater is significantly regulated within Maryland to protect water quality.
The University currently holds 3 different stormwater permits in addition to those obtained as a part of major construction projects. These include an Individual Industrial Permit, which specifically authorizes the university’s discharge of cooling water, boiler blow-down, and condensate wastewater to surrounding surface waters via a separate storm drain system; a 12-SW permit that regulates stormwater management on 6 specific campus locations; and a NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase II General Permit, which covers the discharge of all stormwater runoff that enters the university storm drain system including land, pavement, parking lots, roads, building rooftops and construction sites on campus. These permits require the university to meet certain discharge limitations and employ Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize pollutants discharged into the stormwater.
The university employs several strategies to reduce stormwater impacts, but major approaches include: a routine sampling of 13 permitted outfalls to ensure pollutants are below allowable levels; an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) to identify and mitigate unallowable discharges; and regular site inspections. In addition, the university has over 100 stormwater control facilities that are subject to routine inspection and maintenance.
In an effort to further control stormwater impacts, UMD is currently conducting extensive GIS mapping of its existing storm drain infrastructure and impermeable areas to identify future stormwater mitigation projects. The University’s goal is to meet all stormwater regulation and permit requirements; identify future improvements; seek ways to beneficially reuse stormwater to reduce consumption of potable water. In addition, the University is actively conducting ongoing research in stormwater treatment, participating in educating the campus community and public about stormwater and water quality; and rapidly identifying and addressing discharges that may impact water quality.
Stormwater Hotline (to report stormwater issues or spills):
(301) 405-2222 Email
Public Notifications
Please click here for a list of our public notifications on all oil spill reports, sewage releases, IDDE investigations, and MDE compliance inspections.

Annual MS4 Report
Current and Past Annual MS4 Reports for UMD
MS4 Report 2017-2018
MS4 Report 2016
MS4 Report 2015
MS4 Report 2014
MS4 Report 2013
Permits
All permits pertaining to stormwater
12-SW Stormwater Permit
MDE Approval of 12-SW Permit
08-DP Discharge Permit
MS4 Phase II Permit

Public Participation

Educational Resources
- MS4 Phase II Permit Fact Sheet State and Federal
- Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fact Sheet Under MS4 Phase II Permit
- What is an Illicit Discharge and What is Required
- Maryland's Stormwater Management Act
- Maryland Water Quality Maps
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Chesapeake Stormwater Network
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Anacostia Watershed Society
- Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
- UMD Sustainability Water page
- UMD Facilities Management