MS4 / Stormwater

An MS4 is a designation that stands for the entity that oversees the "municipal separate storm sewer system." It is the drainage system owned by the Town intended to carry only surface runoff (rainwater) to a receiving stream. In Porter's case, the ultimate receiving stream is Lake Michigan. Porter is mandated, along with other local and regional municipalities, to put together an MS4 program that administers the requirements that IDEM sets forth. IDEM, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, is directed in Indiana by the EPA to oversee the MS4 program.

First off, everyone lives in a watershed. A watershed is not a wetland, nor is it floodplain. Simply put, a watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and then drains or seeps it into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. There are millions of watersheds, as each section of rivers and streams have different geographic areas draining to them.
Please watch the following video for more information. Watershed Video

The Town of Porter is in the Lake Michigan watershed. Depending on where you live, you may be in the Little Calumet River watershed, or Munson Ditch watershed. As you can see, each watershed can be further broken down, but for convenience, the Lake Michigan watershed is our main focus.

The figure below shows many of the bodies of water in Porter county, as well as the main watersheds.

Due to the unfunded mandate for the Town to oversee the MS4, the Town must determine how to pay the service that is required. The stormwater (MS4) fee that is assessed to every lot of record in the Town of Porter goes to the Stormwater Board to manage the MS4 permit requirements, as well as determine the projects that can help with the stormwater drainage of the Town. The fees are assessed on your normal trash and sewer bill. Every lot and parcel, developed or undeveloped is to be charged the fee.

The responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the storm drain system throughout Indiana is shared by government and every citizen living within their respective jurisdictions. The Town of Porter has implemented plans and budgets to maintain the system. Any site disturbance of one acre or more, or if included as part of a larger development that has an MS4 permit must pick up a permit application at Porter Town Hall.

It is advised that you speak to Director of Engineering and Development to determine which permit you need.

Our rainwater travels through gutters, storm drains, channels, ditches and eventually into Lake Michigan, our main drinking water resource.

The largest source of storm water pollution in Indiana results from everyday activities. The most common pollutants are:
- Trash and rubbish (fast-food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic beverage bottles, cigarette butts, Styrofoam cups, grass clippings, dirt, sand, rock, etc.)
- Toxins (used motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizer, pesticides, sewage overflow, pet droppings, etc.)

These pollutants are picked up by water(from rain, hoses, sprinklers, etc.), drains from streets, parking lots, lawns, etc., and enters the many catch basins throughout the Town of Porter.
From there, the untreated water flows through a extensive system of pipes, ditches and rivers and eventually to Lake Michigan.
Basically, anything dumped or dropped on the ground or in the gutter contributes to storm water pollution.

No.
During a storm event, water runoff is carried by the storm sewers directly into the Lake. Contaminated storm water receives no treatment because of the sheer volume of runoff from the area encompassing the Town of Porter. The cost of treating this storm water would be so high that it would exceed available resources.

Yes.
The sanitary sewer and the storm sewer are two completely separate drainage systems.
The sanitary system takes all household wastewater from toilets, showers and sinks, and routes it through your plumbing system into the wastewater collection system where it is transported to the Chesterton Waste Water Treatment Plant. Once there, it is treated before being discharged into the Little Calumet River.
The storm water system, on the other hand, was intended to route rainwater quickly off the streets during a heavy storm, but unfortunately takes all urban runoff along with it. Chemicals, trash and debris from lawns, parking lots and streets, either intentionally or accidentally spilled, goes straight into the rivers.

Illegal dumping in the streets and in the storm drain system is one of the largest contributors to water pollution in the country. The exposed open flood control channels are often easy targets for illegal dumping and convenient trash disposal.

Soiled diapers, shopping carts, yard waste, antifreeze, cleaning solvents, soapy water, and used oil containers are just some of the many items tossed into open channels. When it rains, water runoff will carry these items through the storm system and eventually make its way into the Lake.

Health Effects

Storm Water pollution can pose a serious health risk to people due to pesticides, bacteria, and chemicals that are washed from our streets and into the storm water.

Environmental Effects

Countless marine plants and animals living in our rivers and lake may become sick or die from contact with storm water pollution.

Neighborhood Effects

Clogged catch basins significantly decrease the quality of life in many neighborhoods throughout the Town of Porter. These "nests" of trash and debris can attract rats and cockroaches, create foul odors, and clog the storm drain system affecting neighborhood aesthetics and property values, and may cause local flooding.

What can I do?

Quite a bit. A survey recently occurred through NIRPC, of which the Town of Porter utilizes for some of its public involvement, showed that 58% of the respondents did not believe they can have an effect on water quality. This is probably due to the industrialization of the lakefront; however, typical residents can have a large effect on water quality. Fertilizer, dog waste, and illegal dumping of any waste material has a direct effect on water quality. Dumping waste oil down any sewer, storm or sanitary will immediately pollute the area it flows to. Nothing should be put down the drain except clean water. These pipes lead to our streams, and storm sewer water is NOT treated. This runoff will go straight to the river and into Lake Michigan. The industries along the lake front are overseen by IDEM and they have strict regulations to what they are allowed to put in the water. Residents are overseen by the MS4 and we have to watch what is put into the waters.

What you do matters!

The water that you either pump from the ground from a well, or pay the water company comes from this runoff. It is absorbed by the ground for your consumption or into Lake Michigan and is consumed.
Next time the beaches are closed down, ask yourself, what could I have done to help?