Last Updated 08/20/2026
Stormwater Code: Excerpts from Conklin, New York Municipal Code
Stormwater Management And Erosion And Sediment Control.
111-9. Maintenance, inspection and repair of stormwater facilities.
A. Maintenance and inspection during construction.
(1) The applicant or developer of the land development activity shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the applicant or developer to achieve compliance with the conditions of this chapter. Sediment shall be removed from sediment traps or sediment ponds whenever their design capacity has been reduced by 50%.
(2) For land development activities as defined in § 111-6 of this chapter and meeting Condition A, B or C in § 111-7B(2), the applicant shall have a qualified professional conduct site inspections and document the effectiveness of all erosion and sediment control practices every seven days for sites with five acres or less exposed and twice every seven days, separated by two full days, for sites with more than five acres exposed or in accordance with the current general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity. Inspection reports shall be maintained in a site logbook.
B. Maintenance easement(s). Prior to the issuance of any approval that has a stormwater management facility as one of the requirements, the applicant or developer must execute a maintenance easement agreement that shall be binding on all subsequent landowners served by the stormwater management facility. The easement shall provide for access to the facility at reasonable times for periodic inspection by the Town of Conklin to ensure that the facility is maintained in proper working condition to meet design standards and any other provisions established by this chapter. The easement shall be recorded, by the grantor, in the office of the County Clerk after approval by the counsel for the Town of Conklin.
C. Maintenance after construction. The owner or operator of permanent stormwater management practices (SMPs) installed in accordance with this chapter shall ensure they are operated and maintained to achieve the goals of this chapter. Proper operation and maintenance also includes, as a minimum, the following: [Amended 1-26-2010 by L.L. No.
1-2010]
(1) A preventive/corrective maintenance program for all critical facilities and systems of treatment and control (or related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the owner or operator to achieve the goals of this chapter.
(2) Written procedures for operation and maintenance training of new maintenance personnel.
(3) Discharges from the SMPs shall not exceed design criteria or cause or contribute to water quality standard violations in accordance with Article II, § 111-8C.
D. Maintenance agreements. The Town of Conklin shall approve a formal maintenance agreement for stormwater management facilities binding on all subsequent landowners and recorded in the office of the County Clerk as a deed restriction on the property prior to final plan approval. The maintenance agreement shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of Schedule A of this chapter entitled “Sample Stormwater Control Facility Maintenance Agreement.”1 The Town of Conklin, in lieu of a maintenance agreement, at its sole discretion, may accept dedication of any existing or future stormwater management facility, provided such facility meets all the requirements of this chapter and includes adequate and perpetual access and sufficient area, by easement or otherwise, for inspection and regular maintenance.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a program for the control of storm water discharges entering to the ground waters and surface waters of the United States; this program is known as the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System or SPDES.
The Town of Conklin is required to comply with the Phase II SPDES General Permit for discharges from small municipal seperate storm sewer systems, which is known as the MS4 Storm Water Discharge permit. To operate the storm water drainage system in the most efficient and responsible manner the Town works to reduce and control the amount and type of pollutants that end up discharging into the waterways.
Stormwater runoff is the excess rain or melted snow that cannot be absorbed by the soil and flows off of roofs, across properties, parking lots, and streets. It becomes non-point source pollution when it picks up contaminants along the way such as litter, fertilizer, and car oils, and enters a storm drain system where it is transported to a waterbody. Stormwater runoff has been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a major contributor of pollution to our watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands, and is also a concern for flooding.
Storm drains are the grate openings you see along curbs, streets and parking lots. Their purpose is to collect stormwater runoff and direct it through a conveyance system to a discharge point such as a stream or creek. A sanitary sewer, on the other hand, takes household waste water from toilets, sinks and showers and transports it to a wastewater treatment facility where the water is treated thoroughly before it is released.
The Town has developed a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) which includes both local laws contained in the Town code as well as other steps to reduce pollutants in daily operations. The ordinance aims to reduce the amount of pollutants which enter into storm drains and ultimately the creeks, streams and coastal waterways.
The town of Conklin is a part of the Broome-Tioga Stormwater Coalition. There are 15 designated MS4s located in the Counties of Broome and Tioga that must prepare and implement a stormwater management program to comply with state and federal stormwater regulations. These municipalities recognize that watersheds and separate sewer systems cross municipal boundaries and that collaborative efforts addressing local stormwater issues saves time, money and energy. As a result, the MS4s entered into an agreement to form the Broome-Tioga Stormwater Coalition and work together to address local stormwater issues and meet the state and federal stormwater requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is post-construction stormwater management, and does it apply to my property in Conklin?
Post-construction stormwater management covers the ongoing responsibility to control and reduce pollutants discharged from your property into the storm drainage system, consistent with the Town of Conklin’s Stormwater Management Plan, or SWMP, adopted to comply with the state’s Phase II MS4 permit program. If your property in Conklin has stormwater infrastructure tied to a development or redevelopment project, keeping it functioning and free of pollutant sources is a continuing obligation under the Town’s stormwater and erosion control laws. AQUALIS provides post-construction stormwater management for property owners in Conklin, so obligations under the Town’s SWMP are met well after a project is finished.
Who enforces stormwater compliance for properties in Conklin?
Stormwater and erosion control requirements in Conklin fall under the Town’s Code Enforcement office, which administers the local laws that make up the Town’s broader Stormwater Management Plan. Property owners who are uncertain about their obligations under this framework can find themselves out of step with requirements they didn’t know applied to their site. AQUALIS works directly with Conklin property owners to clarify what the Town’s code enforcement office expects and keeps properties aligned with those expectations.
Does stormwater responsibility transfer if I buy a property in Conklin with existing drainage infrastructure?
Stormwater management obligations tied to a property in Conklin, including compliance with the Town’s stormwater and erosion control ordinances, generally follow the property rather than a specific owner, meaning a new owner inherits the same responsibilities as the property’s previous owner. This can catch buyers off guard if the site’s stormwater history was not reviewed before purchase. AQUALIS reviews the stormwater history of newly acquired Conklin properties and takes over the ongoing compliance responsibility from there.
Where can property owners in Conklin get help with post-construction stormwater compliance?
Post-construction stormwater compliance in Conklin is shaped by the Town’s Stormwater Management Plan, its participation in the Broome-Tioga Stormwater Coalition, and local ordinances enforced through the Town’s code enforcement office. Managing all of this without dedicated stormwater staff is difficult for most property owners. AQUALIS offers stormwater management, consulting, maintenance, and non-compliance resolution for Conklin property owners, so owners can meet the Town’s requirements without managing the process themselves.
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.
