Stormwater Management Program

About the Program

The Town of Adams has a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) that collects stormwater runoff, as rainwater or snow melt, from streets, parking lots, sidewalks, buildings and other surfaces. Runoff discharges directly to wetlands, brooks, rivers, and ponds throughout the Town. The Town’s stormwater sewer system is regulated under the MA Small Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and the Stormwater that enters it is regulated under the Clean Water Act, specifically the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Phase II MS4 Grant Permit. The Town’s NPDES MS4 Permit is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The Town is implementing a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) to meet MS4 Permit requirements. The SWMP includes the following:

• Public Education and Outreach
• Public Involvement and Participation
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program
• Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
• Post Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
• Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention for Permittee Owned Operations

The Town’s comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan may be viewed online or a paper copy may be reviewed at the Community Development Department, Town Hall, 8 Park Street.

Residents, businesses, developers and other members of the public are encouraged to review the Stormwater Management Plan and provide comments to the Community Development Department by e-mail or mail.