Stormwater Non-Compliance
Violating Stormwater Code
If you’ve received a letter of non-compliance or a notice of violation (NOV), also called a corrective notice, it’s important for you to respond immediately and properly. AQUALIS specializes in remediating NOVs and reducing or removing fines.
Understanding Stormwater Violations
The EPA, state, and local governments can issue property owners a notice outlining violations of the Clean Water Act or other legislation. Local city and county governments may issue a NOV following a complaint or inspection by a regulatory official.
In either case, you’ll want to act quickly but thoughtfully, starting with the following:
- Read the notice carefully. If there’s anything you don’t understand, or if you believe some aspect is incorrect, contact a stormwater management company for clarification and assistance.
- Prevent further immediate damage by taking necessary corrective measures (e.g., repair the leak or remove excessive vegetation), even if it’s only an interim solution before a more complete response.
Responding to the Notice
- If you fully understand the reasoning for receiving the NOV, the impact, and the necessary corrective actions, then respond to the NOV and regulatory body in writing. Explain the cause, how you plan to clean up the damage and your timeline for doing so, any interim steps you’ve taken, and the full extent of the permanent corrective measures to be taken to prevent future violations.
- If you fully understand the NOV but believe it is unwarranted, you can appeal the violation as detailed in the notice.
- If there’s anything you don’t fully understand, seek the advice of a professional stormwater management company who can help you understand and fix the cause of the violation.
Avoiding Violation Fines
Remediating Compliance Violations
Regulatory bodies do not issue NOVs without cause, and if the issue is serious enough to warrant an NOV, an immediate and professional response is required.
Fortunately, a quick and comprehensive response can help you and your business limit — and in some cases, completely avoid — costly fines and fees. Our experts will assess the site, develop a plan and manage the NOV process to minimize environmental liability and prevent future non-compliance.
Prolong The Life of Your Stormwater System
AQUALIS offers comprehensive maintenance and regular servicing solutions tailored to your property to ensure your stormwater systems operate correctly while extending the life of your investment and avoiding costly NOVs.
Systems We Maintain
Vegetated system designed to hold a permanent volume of water at all times with extra capacity for rain events
Vegetated system designed to hold temporary volumes of water during and following a rain event
Vegetated system designed with specific water quality and quantity aspects to channel runoff while promoting infiltration
Vegetated system designed with highly permeable soils that facilitate infiltration and groundwater recharge
Devices installed at pipe or channel outfalls that convert high-velocity channelized flow into diffused sheet flow for infiltration and removal of particulate pollutants
Outfalls are the drainage or discharge point of a stormwater system. They are designed to convey water away from urban areas.
Underground storage for collecting stormwater. Vaults have a storage capacity that regulates the flow of stormwater as it continues further downstream and off property.
These assets are collection points that allow stormwater runoff to enter stormwater assets where the water can be stored.
Underground infrastructure, also called pipelines, that convey stormwater from one place to another.
Underground systems that utilize technology and innovations to removal trash, debris, sediment and hydrocarbons from stormwater.
An underground SCM that allows stormwater to infiltrate back into the groundwater rather than another SCM or body of water.
Designed systems often retrofitted into storm sewers with storage and pollutant removal capabilities where aboveground SCM may be costly or unviable.
Water Quality NOV- Maynard, Massachusetts
During a routine investigation of the Town’s drainage infrastructure, water quality testing found excess nutrients in the water leaving a retail property in the Town of Maynard, resulting in a violation.
Did you receive an NOV? Have an urgent need? We can help.
Reach out to an AQUALIS representative today.