In 2020 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued the Village of Estero’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).  The Villages’ MS4 system consists of swales, drainage pipes, ditches, canals, and ponds owned and maintained by the Village.

Stormwater runoff, if not managed effectively can become a major source of pollution to The Village of Estero waterways.  When stormwater runoff flows over land, it picks up pollutants such as trash, chemicals, fertilizers, bacteria, oils, and dirt/sediment.  The runoff can transport those pollutants into our water bodies such as The Estero River, Halfway Creek and Estero Bay, if not manager appropriately.  This can result in impaired (polluted) waterbodies that no longer function as they have historically.

To protect our water resources, the Clean Water Act and National Pollution Discharge Eliminate System (NPDES) regulates the non-agricultural sources of stormwater discharges that can adversely affect the quality of our waterways. The program uses the NPDES permitting mechanism to require the use of controls (Best Management Practice (BMP)) designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed away by stormwater runoff into local water bodies.

For more information regarding the NPDES program, visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Stormwater webpage, or email The Village of Estero Public Works at info@estero-fl.gov.