Stormwater Management

This document is prepared by the City of Elmira, in conjunction with the Chemung County Stormwater Coalition, to meet the requirements of the federal Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) Permit reporting requirements. The report is submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for their approval. Inside you will find documentation of City and Coalition efforts to improve and monitor stormwater quality in the area.

View the 2017 to 2018 Stormwater Annual Report (PDF).

A watershed is an area of land that drains rain and snowmelt to a body such as the Chemung River, Newtown Creek, Hoffman Brook, Eldridge Lake, Brick Pond, and Miller's Pond. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. No matter where you are, you're in a watershed!

In our community, stormwater runoff is the most important source of pollution to our water resources. When it rains, stormwater flows over driveways, lawns, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots on its way to the nearest entrance into the storm sewer system. Along the way, stormwater picks up soil, chemicals, and other pollutants. In most cases, the stormwater system discharges this polluted runoff to the nearest body of water with little or no treatment.

Never dump anything down the storm drain!

Recycle motor oil and other automotive fluids at service stations.

Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes (pesticides, fertilizers, paints, etc.) at the Chemung County Solid Waste Management District, 1690 Lake Street, 607-737-2980.

Clean up pet waste and dispose of it in the toilet or trash.

Use lawn fertilizers and pesticides only when necessary. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 607-734-4453 regarding soil tests and lawn care information.

Elmira has been designated as a Phase II "MS4", meaning that it is a small to medium-sized urbanized area that owns and maintains a "Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System." MS4s are required to meet six minimum measures to comply with the Clean Water Act (EPA regulations and federal law):

1. Public education and Outreach
2. Public Involvement and Participation
3. Illicit Discharge, Detection, and Elimination
4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Stormwater Management
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

View the Separate Stormwater System Map for the City of Elmira MS4 (PDF).

To learn more about the MS4 program and reducing stormwater pollution, visit the Chemung County Stormwater Coalition website and the following helpful links:

• Chemung County Stormwater Coalition
• USEPA Envirofacts Data Warehouse - This site provides detailed information regarding permitted wastewater discharges, including municipal wastewater treatment plants.
• Chesapeake Bay Program
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• National Weather Service at Binghamton
• Susquehanna River Basin Commission Home Page
• Susquehanna River Basin Commission GIS Program
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Region 8 Weekly Hunting and Fishing Report
• Office of Water
• Office of Wastewater Management
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Corps of Engineers - Flood reservoir data (including that of the Tioga-Hammond dams and the Cowanesgue Dam), water quality data, and precipitation data
• Polluted Runoff
• Polluted Runoff for Kids
• Nonpoint Source Pointers (Fact Sheets)
• Watershed Management Program

The Chemung County Stormwater Coalition is made up of member municipalities in the Elmira urbanized area. The Coalition meets at 10 am on the 3rd Wednesday of each good weather month at the County Fairgrounds Conservation Cabin. In winter, the Coalition meets at the Big Flats Community Center.