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Stormwater Division

Regulatory Programs

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Development Review Committee (DRC)

Plans for commercial and residential property developments are reviewed for compliance with the County's land development code. The review process aims to ensure stormwater runoff will be handled effectively to reduce flooding potential and capture pollutants that may be carried in the runoff.

The process includes meetings and discussions with engineers and builders. At times, waivers are granted when plans vary from the land development code, but meet additional requirements.

During and following construction of new developments, Stormwater Division inspectors make on-site visits to verify stormwater control measures are in place as called for in the final, approved plans.

NPDES Phase II MS4 Permit

The Clean Water Program is designed to protect and preserve Marion County's water resources by preventing harmful pollutants from being washed into local water bodies by stormwater runoff under requirements set forth by the Clean Water Act.

Program goals will be achieved through the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) as required under Phase II of the federal Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (or NPDES) Program. Phase II of the NPDES Program includes addressing stormwater runoff from small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4).

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

TMDLs are the maximum amount of pollutant loading a water body can receive and still maintain its designated water use such as fishing, swimming, shellfish harvesting or as a source of drinking water. An "impaired water" is a river, lake or stream that, because of pollution levels, is not meeting water quality standards for its designated use.

TMDLs provide important water quality targets so that any waters impaired by the cumulative impacts of regulated and unregulated sources of pollution can be restored. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) Watershed Management Program is working on a state-wide comprehensive approach to protecting Florida water quality involving basin-wide assessments and the application of a full range of regulatory and non-regulatory strategies to reduce pollution.

Silver Springs BMAP Orientation Meeting Draft Agenda

Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs)

Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) are the limits set by District Governing Boards for surface waters and groundwater, for the purpose of preventing significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area caused by withdrawals.

MFLs are determined based on evaluations of topography, soils and vegetation data collected within plant communities and other pertinent information associated with the water resource. MFLs take into account the ability of wetlands and aquatic communities to adjust to changes in hydrologic conditions. They also take into account recreational and aesthetic attributes.

MFLs allow for an acceptable level of change to occur. When use of water resources shifts the hydrologic conditions below levels defined by MFLs, significant ecological harm can occur.

Irrigation

A primary concern related to outdoor irrigation is the excessive amount of water that can be wasted as a result of inefficient practices. Currently, more than half of all water is used outdoors. Another concern related to inefficient irrigation is potential leaching of salts, pesticides, and nutrients to ground water, and/or the discharge of these pollutants to surface water.

The goal of the county's water conservation ordinance for landscape irrigation is to promote irrigation "best management practices" that help reduce water consumption and minimize the movement of pollutants into ground and surface water. These best management practices include limiting irrigation activity to early or late in the day, which helps significantly reduce avoid water lost from evaporation. Another irrigation BMP is to limit the number of days per week that watering can occur, so that plants are encouraged to develop deeper and stronger root systems. Healthy root systems means less thatch, and improves the ability of the plant to withstand drought and filter pollutants.

Click Here to see Marion
County's Irrigation Ordinance

Click Here to see Marion
County's Irrigation Fact Sheet