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Stormwater Pollution Prevention

Oakland Community College has applied for coverage under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) for the discharge of stormwater from the Auburn Hills, Highland Lakes, Orchard Ridge, and Southfield campuses.  The Public Notice explains the process for commenting on the draft permit.  You can contact the EHSRM Department at (248) 232-4633 or maschmid@oaklandcc.edu with questions or comments.

Public Notice (PDF)Draft MS4 Permit (PDF)

Oakland Community College (OCC) encourages students, employees and the community to work together to protect our waterways by reducing pollution in stormwater systems.

Rain and melted snow on OCC campuses flow into storm sewers, which eventually discharge directly into nearby rivers, wetlands and lakes without treatment. OCC has campuses that are in the Rouge River, Huron River and Clinton River Watersheds. As a result, pollutants entering our storm sewers can travel long distances, affecting the environment and potentially threatening local communities.

What can you do to prevent stormwater pollution?

  • Never dump chemicals down storm drains! Only rain and snow should enter our storm sewers.
  • Place trash in designated containers and cover outdoor trash bins.
  • Minimize salt use during winter.
  • Reduce or eliminate pesticide use and apply only in areas less likely to be carried by runoff into storm drains.

How to report a spill

To report a spill or pollutant release, contact OCC Public Safety at (248) 858-4911, or 5555 from a campus phone.

Stormwater Management Plan

To protect our waterways, OCC has created a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) that outlines strategies to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff.  Pollutants can harm ecosystems by killing plants and animals, and by making waterways unsafe for both wildlife and humans. Review OCC’s Stormwater Management Plan (PDF).

Frequently Asked Questions

Stormwater runoff is water from rain or melting snow that doesn’t soak into the ground.  It picks up garbage, bacteria, chemicals and other pollutants as it runs off hard surfaces, like pavement and roofs, and carries these pollutants to our streams, ponds, and wetlands.

When it rains or snows, stormwater runoff is directed to storm drains, which can be found in parking lots and along the edges of paved roads.  This water flows to underground pipes that eventually empty into bodies of water like streams, rivers or wetlands.

Storm sewers are designed to redirect stormwater runoff from hard surfaces so that it does not pool in unwanted areas. Sanitary sewers collect wastewater from homes and other buildings, and direct it to wastewater treatment plants for treatment.

Household hazardous waste includes paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides, and other hazardous products that can contribute to pollution if not disposed of properly. Never dispose of household hazardous waste down a storm drain. 

While Oakland County does not have a county-wide household hazardous waste disposal program, some organizations provide collection services to local communities. In addition, some communities operate independent programs.

Contact these organizations for upcoming collection dates:

When washing or power washing anything outdoors, use only water when appropriate.  If a cleaning agent must be used, look for the least-toxic alternative, with biodegradable ingredients, so as to reduce our impact on the local environment.  Avoid letting any runoff go down the storm drains.

Grass clippings, leaf debris, and animal wastes can all clog and pollute the storm sewer system if they enter a storm drain.  These items should be properly packaged and sent away with your regular trash removal.

A septic system is a household wastewater treatment system for homes that are not connected to a sanitary sewer system.  If a septic system is not maintained and it fails, polluted wastewater can leach into the soil.  The water can make its way to low-lying areas and negatively affect wetlands and potentially larger bodies of water.  Both storm sewer systems and septic systems must be well-maintained to avoid polluting our local waterways.

To avoid septic system failure, do not pour oil or grease down your sink, nor any items that can be considered household hazardous waste, as described above.  Avoid flushing items in the toilet that aren’t biodegradable.  Septic systems should be inspected by professionals every 1-3 years and have their contents pumped out every 3-5 years, depending on usage.  If the ground around the septic tank becomes soggy or develops a bad odor, this could be evidence of septic system failure.

Green infrastructure, including green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements, as well as low-impact development practices can greatly reduce the impact of development activities on a property.  Any time you can reduce the amount of paved or other hard surfaces, you reduce the amount of runoff from rain and snow, and therefore the potential for pollution being carried to our waterways.  More information on green infrastructure and low-impact development can be found online.

Many of OCC’s operation, renovations, and construction activities have the potential to negatively impact stormwater and surface waters.  To minimize these impacts, OCC has implemented Standard Operating Procedures to instruct employees and students on best-management practices for pollution prevention.  In addition, OCC works closely with the Oakland County Water Resources Commission to ensure that its construction and renovation projects cause minimal harm to the environment.  To further help the College reduce its contribution of pollutants to stormwater, it continues to seek assistance from and work with the various Watershed Councils and preservation organizations.

Oakland County Watersheds

Do you know which local watershed you live in?  Check out the interactive map.

Search regional watersheds by Address

 

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Contact Information

Michael Schmidt
Manager of Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management
Email: maschmid@oaklandcc.edu
Phone: (248) 232-4633