Section 10-A1307. IN-2.2 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

 

1307.1The District’s storm drainage system consists of approximately 8,200 catch basins, 600 miles of storm sewers, and 15 stormwater pumping stations. WASA also maintains over 400 separate storm sewer discharges into local rivers and creeks. Since the early 1900s, separate stormwater and sanitary sewers have been constructed within the District and no new combined sewers have been built. 1307.1

 

1307.2Planned and programmed stormwater improvements include the replacement of undersized or deteriorated storm sewers with new and larger diameter pipes, and the installation of storm sewers to serve areas of new development or changed development patterns. Rehabilitation and replacement of pumping station force mains also is planned. Regional and inter-governmental cooperation will be needed to maximize the effectiveness of these upgrades (see “Regional Initiatives” text box). 1307.2

 

See the Environmental Protection Element for policies and actions related to Low Impact Development, green roofs and other ways to reduce stormwater run-off.

 

1307.3Policy IN-2.2.1: Improving Stormwater Management

 

Ensure that stormwater is efficiently conveyed, backups are minimized or eliminated, and the quality of receiving waters is sustained. Stormwater management should be an interagency process with clear lines of responsibility with regard to oversight, guidelines, and resources. 1307.3

 

1307.4Action IN-2.2.A: Stormwater Capital Improvements

 

Continue the implementation of stormwater capital improvements as identified in the WASA Capital Improvement program. 1307.4

 

1307.5Action IN-2.2.B: Stormwater Management Responsibilities Develop an integrated process to manage stormwater that enhances interagency communication and formally assigns responsibility and funding to manage stormwater drainage. This process should include:

 

•an appropriate funding mechanism to consistently maintain Clean Water standards and reduce surface runoff;

 

•clear lines of responsibility with regard to which agency provides oversight, guidelines, and resources for the stormwater system and its management;

 

•consistent and reliable funding sources to maintain Clean Water standards and reduce surface water runoff; and

 

•assurance that stormwater improvements associated with new development are coordinated with the WASA Capital Improvement Plan. 1307.5

 

1307.6Regional Initiatives

 

The District has participated in several Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Initiatives in the past few years. The Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, undertaken in partnership with the EPA, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and Maryland, DC, and Virginia, resulted in a directive called “Managing Stormwater on State, Federal and District-Owned Lands and Facilities.” The directive called for better management of stormwater on public lands and facilities, which comprise more than 13 percent of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

 

The ultimate goal is to prevent stormwater problems resulting from increased development and to remediate stormwater problems on lands that have already been developed.

 

The 2001 Anacostia Watershed Restoration Agreement established new comprehensive goals for restoring water quality and living resources in the Anacostia basin. These goals include the creation of additional riparian forest buffers, decreasing impervious surface area through low impact development, and establishing active river advocacy groups in each major Anacostia subwatershed.

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.