Stormwater FAQs

Stormwater runoff is water from rain or melting snow that “runs off” across the land and impervious surfaces (driveways, roofs, parking lots, etc.) instead of seeping into the ground. This runoff usually flows into the nearest stream, creek, river, lake or ocean. The runoff is not treated in any way.

Water from rain and melting snow either seeps into the ground or “runs off” to lower areas, making its way into streams, lakes and other water bodies. On its way, runoff water can pick up and carry many substances that pollute water – like pesticides, fertilizers, oil and soap, and others from construction, bare soil, or agricultural land, pet waste, grass clippings and leaves – can harm creeks, rivers and lakes in sufficient quantities.
 
In addition to rain and snowmelt, various human activities like watering, car washing, and malfunctioning septic systems can put water onto the land surface. Here, it can also create runoff that carries pollutants to creeks, rivers and lakes.
 
Polluted runoff generally happens anywhere people use or alter the land. For example, in developed areas, none of the water that falls on hard (impervious) surfaces like roofs, driveways, parking lots, decks or roads can seep into the ground. These impervious surfaces create large amounts of runoff that picks up pollutants. Runoff not only pollutes but can erode streambanks. The mix of pollutants and eroded dirt muddies the water and can cause problems downstream.

Polluted stormwater runoff generally happens anywhere people use or alter the land. People going about their daily lives are the number one source of stormwater pollutants. Most people are unaware of how they impact water quality. Some common examples include over fertilizing lawns, excessive pesticide use, not picking up pet waste, using salt or fertilizer to de-ice driveways, letting oil drip out of their vehicles and littering. Developed areas in general, with their increased runoff, concentrated numbers of people and animals, construction and other activities, are a major contributor to pollution, as are agricultural activities. Other contributors include forest harvesting activities, roadways, and malfunctioning septic systems.

Polluted urban stormwater runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in Georgia. Polluted water creates numerous costs to the public and wildlife. As the saying goes, “we all live downstream.” Communities that use surface water for their drinking supply must pay much more to clean up polluted water than clean water.
 
Polluted water hurts wildlife in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. Dirt from erosion, also called sediment, covers up fish habitats and fertilizers can cause too much algae to grow, which also hurts wildlife by using up the oxygen they need to survive. Soaps hurt fish gills and fish skin, and other chemicals damage plants and animals when they enter the water.
 
The quantity of stormwater is also a problem. When stormwater falls on hard surfaces like roads, roofs, driveways and parking lots, it cannot seep into the ground, so it runs off to lower areas. To give you an idea of the difference a hard surface makes, consider the difference between one inch of rain falling onto a meadow and a parking lot. The parking lot sheds 16 times the amount of water than a meadow.

“Best management practices” (BMP) is a term used to describe different ways to keep pollutants out and to slow down high volumes of runoff.
 
Preventing pollution from entering water is much more affordable than cleaning polluted water! Educating residents about how to prevent pollution from entering waterways is one best management practice. Laws that require people and businesses involved in earth disturbing activities – like construction and agriculture – to take steps to prevent erosion are another way to prevent stormwater pollution. There are also laws about litter, cleaning up after pets and dumping oil, paint or other substances into storm drains.
 
Education and laws are just two best management practice examples. Some BMPs are constructed to protect a certain area. Some are designed to slow down stormwater, others help reduce the pollutants already in it – there are also BMPs that do both!
 
Detention ponds, built to temporarily hold water so it seeps away slowly, fill up quickly after a rainstorm and allow solids like sediment and litter to settle at the pond bottom. Then, they release the water slowly. These such ponds are one constructed BMP example. Green roofs, rain gardens, filter strips, sediment fences and permeable paving are other examples.

The federal Clean Water Act requires large and medium sized cities to take the following steps to reduce polluted stormwater runoff

• Conduct outreach and education about polluted stormwater runoff
• Provide opportunities for residents to participate and be involved in conversations and activities related to reducing polluted stormwater runoff
• Detect illicit discharges (e.g. straight piping or dumping)
• Control construction site runoff
• Control post-construction runoff
• Perform municipal housekeeping (e.g. take steps to prevent runoff from city buildings 
• and activities)

If you own a car, maintain it so it does not leak oil or other fluids. Be sure to wash it on the grass or at a car wash so the dirt and soap do not flow down the driveway and into the nearest storm drain. If you own a yard, do not over fertilize your grass. Never apply fertilizers or pesticides before a heavy rain. If fertilizer falls onto driveways or sidewalks, sweep it up instead of hosing it away. Mulch leaves and grass clippings and place leaves in the yard at the curb, not in the street. Doing this keeps leaves out of the gutter, where they can wash into the nearest storm drain. Turn your gutter downspouts away from hard surfaces, seed bare spots in your yard to avoid erosion.
 
Keep lawn and household chemicals tightly sealed and in a place where rain cannot reach them. Dispose of old or unwanted chemicals at household hazardous waste collections sites or events.
 
Pet owners should pick up after their pets and dispose of pet waste in the garbage. Never put anything in a storm drain. Don’t litter.

The City has developed and implemented a SWMP to maintain and enhance water quality and ensure that negative stormwater impacts are minimized throughout the City. The SWMP consists of both citizen educational efforts as well as technical and regulatory programs. It is also a federal and state requirement that certain cities and counties implement a SWMP.

The federal Clean Water Act requires Georgia (and most other states) to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). To comply with this program, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division requires local governments to obtain NPDES permit coverage by developing and implementing a SWMP.

The City’s SWMP consists of 6 categories and a number of practices and/or programs to address and support each category. These categories are: Public Education, Public Involvement, Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination, Construction Site Runoff Control, Post-Construction Stormwater Management, and Pollution Prevention from Municipal Activities. Implementation of all 6 categories make up a comprehensive program.

The City’s public education and involvement efforts are directed to both the development/engineering community as well as the general public. The City posts articles and stormwater-related information on the website and social media as well provides permit applicants with detailed checklists to ensure stormwater requirements are met. The City also hosts an annual community event such as Public Works Day to distribute stormwater information and inform citizens on how stormwater is addressed within the City. Other programs the City participates in are Adopt-A-Road, Stream Cleanups, Bulky Trash and Recycling Day, and Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Event.

An illicit discharge is a discharge of pollutants or non-stormwater materials such as sanitary wastes, yard debris and auto fluids, into a stormwater drainage system. The City adopted an Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Ordinance in 2006 that establishes fines for illegal discharges. In addition, the City inspects stormwater outfalls annually to ensure non-stormwater discharges are identified and corrected. The City also posts information on the website that educates the public about the stormwater system, pollutants, and illicit discharges and responds to citizen reports of illegal activity.

The City has an erosion & sediment control ordinance and requires compliance with approved erosion & sediment control plans for building and land disturbance permits. City inspectors visit these permitted sites to ensure the plan is being followed and sediment is retained onsite and prevented from adjacent properties and surface waters. The City also enforces stream buffers which prevents development activities from occurring close to streams and responds to citizen reports of erosion and sediment issues associated with land development sites.

The City has adopted a stormwater ordinance and design manual to ensure that water quality is maintained and improved and drainage systems are designed to protect downstream properties. The ordinance requires that new developments and redevelopments have a plan in place to address quality and quantity impacts. The design manual provides guidance on the proper ways to select, design and maintain stormwater controls. The City reviews land development plans and inspects land development projects in the field to ensure compliance with the ordinance. The City also requires a stormwater management facility maintenance agreement and inspects these facilities to see that they are properly maintained by the owners.

The City has programs to inspect and maintain storm structures in the rights of way. Structures such as catch basins and inlets are cleaned and the roadways are swept to keep trash and debris from entering the storm system. In addition, the City conducts annual water quality training sessions for employees and retrofits existing, City-owned detention ponds so that they better able to reduce pollutants and enhance water quality.

You can find all the information about the City’s Stormwater Utility Program.

Starting in July, please be on the lookout for your 2024 Stormwater Utility bill. This year, your bill will be coming directly from the City of Johns Creek and can be paid on the City’s website: www.JohnsCreekGA.gov/Stormwater.

The City is only responsible to maintain stormwater drainage facilities, including pipes, outfalls, catch basins, headwalls and detention ponds, that are located in the public right-of-way or on City-owned land, not private property.

The City does not have a rip-rap program.  Please contact Community Development prior to altering any drainage paths.

No. The State has a 25-foot stream buffer and the City has an additional 25-foot stream buffer for a total of 50 feet that is an undisturbed buffer along both banks of every stream in the City. Residents cannot erect any fencing, walls, decks, etc., or remove any live vegetation from this area.

Maybe. The best approach is to contact our Land Development staff with the Community Development Department, and they will go out to analyze the area and provide a professional determination on whether it’s a stream/creek, or a storm water channel that has intermittent water flow that requires a buffer. An ephemeral stream, which is a stormwater channel that only has flow in it immediately after a rainfall, would not require a buffer.

No, but you may be able to seek a variance to do so. If you are planning to build any structure or install any impervious surface in your yard but have the presence of a stream, you should contact the planning and zoning staff with the Community Development Department, and they will analyze whether you will need a permit and/or a stream buffer variance is needed to make the desired improvement to your property.