Last Updated 08/24/2026
General Contractor and Site Superintendent Responsibilities
“Many communities are now required to regulate post-construction practices for water quality, therefore city or county regulations may apply in addition to state and federal regulations (See Chapter 1 for information about state regulations, federal regulations and permit requirements.) In order to avoid costly corrections and project delays, it will be important for the general contractor and site superintendent to: Understand local water quality requirements. Many communities are upgrading stormwater ordinances and codes, because they are now required to enforce development standards to meet water quality goals. As a result, requirements may include capturing and treating small storm runoff at the site. This makes it necessary to employ green infrastructure concepts and low impact development practices, in particular environmental site designs that include:
(1) Features such as stream buffers, less impervious surface (narrower streets, etc.), streetscapes, connected green spaces, parking lot controls and pocket parks.
(2) Strategically placed practices such as rain gardens, bioswales, stormwater wetlands, infiltration trenches, perimeter sand filters and planter boxes.
(3) Similar practices to collect and treat small storm runoff.
To avoid costly repairs, avoid damage to designated SCM locations during construction. Become aware of all planned SCMs designed for permanent function and identify where they are to be located. Contemporary designs can include numerous on-site SCMs throughout the project site. The ultimate placement and combined functions of SCMs, as well as their connected paths, need to be protected from soil compaction and other disturbances. Such protection will eliminate the need for costly repairs and will protect against failure of the SCM. Coordinate long-term operations with landowners. Local regulations for permanent stormwater control measures may require a formal transfer of operation and maintenance responsibility from developer to builder or buyer. Notify local governments about permanent practices where regulated. The site superintendent or general contractor should inform the local governing agency about the final location of all SCMs as well as who is in charge of the operation and maintenance of each control device. Check the local ordinance for requirements.”
Coordinating Long-term operation, maintenance and inspection
“Long-term operation, maintenance and inspection needs, along with any safety concerns, should be communicated to the affected landowners, homeowners’ association and other parties responsible for permanent oversight of the SCMs. Present and future landowners should be made aware of the potential consequences of changing vegetation types, poor maintenance practices or other actions that could cause a practice to function poorly or fail. A long-term education program should be implemented to ensure that multi-generational land owners understand the importance of maintaining practices. Without knowledge of their intended purposes, there is possibility new owners will disable functional features.”
Preparing the Operation, Maintenance and Inspection Manual
“Each stormwater control measure should have specific operation, maintenance and inspection information written in an operations, maintenance and inspection manual. The manual should be prepared by the design professional, and the entity responsible for operations, maintenance and inspection of each device should be identified. After construction is complete and all SCM devices are operational, the responsibility for operations, maintenance and inspection should be turned over to the proper entity, and the individuals should be provided adequate training for operations, maintenance and inspection.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
What state agency regulates stormwater in Missouri?
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers the state’s NPDES program through the Missouri Clean Water Law, codified at 10 CSR 20-6.200. This means any land disturbance tied to construction is subject to state permit requirements on top of whatever local city or county ordinances apply, so property owners need to satisfy both layers rather than assuming one covers the other.
Which construction projects need a state stormwater permit?
Missouri’s general land disturbance permit applies to construction sites disturbing one acre or more, as well as smaller construction activities that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale expected to disturb one acre or more over the life of the project. This second category catches phased developments that might look small at any single stage but add up to something larger overall, so it’s worth evaluating the full scope of a project rather than just its current phase.
What are Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs), and when do they need to be operational?
SCMs are the permanent devices designed to manage stormwater quantity and quality after a site is fully built. They’re often installed during construction, but typically aren’t put into active operation until the project is complete and the site has stabilized. Because of this timing gap, it’s worth confirming exactly when each SCM is expected to come online so nothing gets treated as finished before it’s actually functional.
What should general contractors and site superintendents know about local water quality requirements?
Many Missouri communities now regulate post-construction water quality on top of state and federal rules, often requiring that small storm runoff be captured and treated on-site. This has pushed many local codes toward green infrastructure and low impact development practices, things like rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration trenches and perimeter sand filters. Contractors should understand these local requirements early, since retrofitting green infrastructure after the fact tends to be far more expensive than designing for it from the outset.
How do I avoid damaging permanent SCMs during construction?
Contractors need to identify the planned locations of all permanent SCMs before work begins and actively protect them from soil compaction and other disturbances throughout construction. Since contemporary site designs can include numerous SCMs spread across a project, and their connected flow paths matter as much as the individual devices, this protection needs to be built into the construction sequencing rather than treated as an afterthought.
Who takes over long-term maintenance of SCMs after construction ends?
Local regulations may require a formal transfer of operation and maintenance responsibility from the developer to the eventual builder or property owner. The site superintendent or general contractor is typically responsible for notifying the local governing agency of each SCM’s final location and who holds ongoing maintenance responsibility, so this handoff should be documented clearly rather than left informal.
What is an Operation, Maintenance and Inspection Manual, and do I need one?
Yes, for any property with permanent SCMs. Each device should have specific operation, maintenance and inspection procedures documented in a manual, ideally prepared by the design professional who engineered the system. Once construction wraps up and the SCMs are fully operational, this manual and the associated responsibility should be formally handed to whoever will manage the property long-term, along with adequate training so that role can be filled with confidence.
Why does long-term owner education matter for SCM performance?
Missouri’s guidance specifically warns that future property owners, unaware of an SCM’s purpose, can unintentionally disable functional features or let poor maintenance practices cause a system to fail. This is particularly relevant for properties that change hands multiple times, since institutional knowledge about why a rain garden or bioswale exists can get lost between owners without a deliberate education effort built into the transfer process.
Where can I find Missouri's full stormwater guidance and local program list?
AQUALIS hosts the Missouri Water Quality Guide, Section 5 on Permanent Stormwater Runoff Management. The state maintains a list of local government MS4 programs for jurisdiction-specific requirements, and the Missouri DOT stormwater page covers state transportation-related runoff standards.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
