Stormwater Utility

Responsibilities

The City has been issued a Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit (WPDES) for stormwater discharges to the waters of the State of Wisconsin. In order to meet the requirements of the WPDES permit, the City Council formed the Stormwater Utility. The Stormwater Utility’s responsibility includes maintenance and repair to the stormwater collection network, which includes catch basins, sewers, discharge outlets, and detention ponds. The Stormwater Utility’s responsibilities also include the following functions that were moved from the General Fund; the maintenance and management of street sweeping, compost/yard waste, and lake management.

Illicit Discharges

Have you ever seen something unusual entering our waterways from the storm sewer system? Or a spilled material entering the storm sewer system? There is a way to report this!  It’s as easy as describing what you saw and where. Fill out the Spill and Illicit Discharge Reporting Form and return to the Public Works Department, or send to bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov. You can also reach out to the Public Works Department with any questions or concerns at 262-473-0560.

Stormwater Reports

The Annual Stormwater Permit represents the activity of the stormwater utility in regards to meeting the utility’s discharge permit requirements in regards to public education, outreach, enforcement, and reporting the financial health of the utility to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

Current Annual Stormwater Report MS4 (PDF)

Post-Construction Runoff

Uncontrolled post-construction runoff has a significant negative impact upon water resources and the health, safety and general welfare of the community and diminishes the public enjoyment and use of natural resources. Therefore, the city regulates post-construction stormwater discharges for land development activity that results in 20,000 square feet or more of land disturbing construction activity or results in a net increase of 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surface.

If a construction activity meets either of these two requirements, the developer must adhere to the city’s Erosion Control and Stormwater Management requirements (PDF), and upkeep and maintain their stormwater facilities as outlined in their Agreement to Maintain Stormwater Facilities (Sample Agreement) (PDF).