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City of Morristown Stormwater Program

 Welcome to the City of Morristown Stormwater Program's web site! This site contains information regarding the City's Stormwater Permit and how the public can become involved in keeping the waters of our City clean. You'll also find information regarding stormwater regulations that may affect your construction project.

Quick Info

 Report an "illicit discharge" to the City's waters (dumping trash, pouring motor oil down the drain, muddy runoff from a construction site, etc.): Call our Stormwater Hotline at 423-585-1831 or e-mail us at stormwater@mymorristown.com

Contact us for other issues:
Jim Whitbeck, P.E. (423-585-2793, jwhitbeck@mymorristown.com)
Kenny Reed (423-585-2790, kreed@mymorristown.com)
City's Main Switchboard (423-581-0100)

Opportunities for Public Involvement:
No opportunities at this time.

Ordinances and Regulations
Links are provided here; see below for more information.

  • Land Disturbance Ordinance
  • Post Construction Ordinance
  • Water Quality Buffer Zone Ordinance
  • Water Quality BMP Manual
  • Subdivision Regulations
  • Stormwater Management / BMP Facilities Maintenance Agreement
  • Illicit Discharge Ordinance
  • Required Stormwater Information for Plans Submittal Videos
    Oil Down the Storm Drain
    Trash Down the Storm Drain

    City's Planning Department (Planning, Zoning, Subdivisions, Annexation, Signs)

    City of Morristown Planning Department

    Background

    The City initially became covered by the NPDES General Permit For Discharges From Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) in 2003. This permit, often simply called a "Stormwater Permit," is required by the US Environmental Protection Agency and is implemented in Tennessee by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Neither the US EPA nor the State of Tennessee provides any funding to Morristown for operating the Stormwater Program.

    Most cities and counties with a population greater than 10,000 and/or located in an "urbanized area" as defined by the US Census must follow this permit, which regulates discharges of stormwater runoff to waters of the state.

    The permit provides requirements in each of the following six "minimum control measures":


    More information about each of these six main categories is provided below.

    Public Education and Outreach & Public Involvement/Participation

    These two related topics focus on educating and involving the public in all areas of stormwater management. We run articles in the Lakeway Citizen-Tribune about new and pending regulations and also topics of general interest. We will hold a public meeting to present our Annual Report each year before submittal to the state on September 30. In addition, we partner with Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful to provide education about the importance of clean water to students in the Hamblen County Schools.

    Opportunities for the residents of Morristown and Hamblen County to become involved are advertised at the top of the web page under "Quick Info."

    Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

    Our Stormwater Permit requires us to find and eliminate "illicit discharges." The City's Illicit Discharge Ordinance, passed in April 2011, defines "illicit discharges," prohibits them, and provides for enforcement options to eliminate them.

    The Ordinance defines an illicit discharge as any discharge not composed entirely of stormwater runoff unless otherwise allowed. Some allowable discharges include foundation drains, landscape watering, air conditioning condensate, water used for street sweeping, and runoff from fire fighting activities. Most other discharges to the stormwater system are prohibited.

    Residential car washing and car washes for charities lasting two days or less are allowed. However, commercial car washing which runs off to a stream, ditch, catch basin, gutter, or any other type of stormwater conveyance is prohibited.

    This part of our permit also requires us to notify and educate "hot spots." These are locations such as restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, auto repair shops, and other places which pose a higher risk of stormwater pollution due to the nature of their operations. In April, the City mailed notices to over 400 businesses who may qualify as a "hot spot."

    Being designated as a hot spot does not mean that the business is not operating properly or is violating any rules or ordinances. It simply means that there is a greater potential for pollution at the site. There are no additional fees or permits. However, our permit requires us to provide education to hot spots and to inspect stormwater drains in the area of hot spots to insure that no illicit discharges are occurring.

    Call our Stormwater Hotline at 423-585-1831 or e-mail us at stormwater @ mymorristown.com to report a suspected illicit discharge. Call us at the Contacts above with other questions about illicit discharges and hot spots.

    Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

    The third requirement of the Stormwater Permit is for control of runoff from construction sites. Discharges of sediment or other waste (concrete truck washout, litter, etc.) from construction sites is prohibited by the City's Land Disturbance Ordinance.

    A permit is required for any land disturbance of any size inside the City. A Land Disturbance Application may be picked up at the City building at 100 West 1st North Street or may be downloaded from this website. The following links may be useful for builders of single-family homes: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for Single Family Residential Homebuilding Sites and Homebuilders SWPPP for Construction General Permit. Please call Kenny Reed at (423) 585-2790 for more information.

    In addition, any land disturbance totaling more than one acre requires a permit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Consult TDEC's Website or call the TDEC Knoxville Environmental Assistance Center at (865) 594-6035 for more information. Their website also includes information about training courses required for those who will implement and inspect a site covered by a TDEC Construction Permit.

    Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development And Re-Development

    Our Stormwater Permit requires treatment of stormwater runoff from areas of new development and re-development. The City's Post Construction Ordinance contains the requirements for treatment, while the Water Quality BMP Manual contains design methods and treatment options. An executed Stormwater Management / BMP Facilities Maintenance Agreement is required to assure that treatment facilities are continually maintained even after the construction is completed.

    The Water Quality Buffer Zone Ordinance contains regulations for preserving the areas along streams, creeks, lakes, and other waters. These areas provide an additional barrier to pollution by filtering runoff, help protect the stream channel against erosion, and provide shade and cover to aquatic life.

    Please note that any work near a stream may require a TDEC Permit. Visit their Permits website or call the TDEC Knoxville Environmental Assistance Center at (865) 594-6035 for more information.

    Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping For Municipal Operations

    The final of the six stormwater permit requirements involves the City's own operations. The City must evaluate all sources of potential pollution such as streets and roads, municipal parking lots, maintenance shops, outdoor storage areas, construction activities, parks maintenance and landscaping, and salt storage. Procedures to eliminate or reduce the potential for pollution must be developed, and employees must be trained on these procedures at least annually.

    Stormwater Utility

    Neither the State of Tennessee or the federal government provides funding for the City's Stormwater Program. In 2008, the City established a Stormwater Utility to provide funding for implementing the requirements of the Stormwater Permit and for maintaining and improving the storm sewer system. The City Council recently adjusted this fee to account for the rising costs of compliance.

    Single-family residences will now pay $2.50 per month, billed to their water bill or separately by the City. Commercial facilities and non-profits will be charged $2.50 per "Equivalent Residential Unit" (ERU) of impervious area (driveways, patios, roofs, or other areas where stormwater does not infiltrate into the ground). An ERU is equal to 2,400 square feet and was determined to be the average amount of impervious area located at a home in the area. For rental properties, the landlord may pay the fee or may divide it amongst the tenants.