National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, the City is required to take steps to reduce the impact of stormwater pollution. The City of Watertown stormwater drainage system operates as a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under this permit.

The City’s program includes the following elements:

View Presentation to Public Works Subcommittee February 2016 (PDF)

2016 General Permit

The EPA issued a new, updated general permit effective July 1, 2018. This permit replaces the 2003 permit and contains updated and new requirements that the City will have to meet. The entire contents of the permit are available on the EPA’s website.

January 2023:

The Stormwater Advisory Committee reviewed and discussed the City's Stormwater Management Plan at its January 19, 2023 meeting.  View the presentation here (PDF).

October 2022:

View our Year 4 Annual Report (PDF)

May 2022:

The City's Stormwater Management Plan (PDF) has been updated through September 2021.

January 2022:

The Stormwater Advisory Committee reviewed and discussed the City’s Stormwater Management Plan at its January 20, 2022 meeting.  View the presentation here (PDF).

September 2021:

View our Year 3 Annual Report Annual Report (PDF)

January 2021:

The Stormwater Advisory Committee reviewed and discussed the City’s Stormwater Management Plan at its January 21, 2021 meeting. View the presentation here. Watch the full meeting here.

September 2020:

View our Year 2 Annual Report (PDF)

The Stormwater Management Plan has also been updated to reflect changes made to-date: Watertown Final SWMP - Sept 2020

February 2020:

DPW provided updates on implementation of Year 2 permit requirements to the Stormwater Advisory Committee at their February 19, 2020 meeting.

October 2019:

The Town submitted its annual report for year one to the EPA (PDF).

July 2019:

The final Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) is available here:

Stormwater Management Plan - Final (PDF)

May 2019:

The EPA reviewed the notice of intent and issued the town this authorization letter (PDF).

April 2019:

The Town is developing an updated stormwater management plan which outlines the steps the Town will take to comply with the new permit requirements in greater detail than in the Notice of Intent (NOI).

View the draft Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP):

Stormwater Management Plan (PDF)

Stormwater Management Plan Appendices (PDF)

Stormwater Advisory Committee Presentation (PDF)

Comments on the draft SWMP will be accepted through May 15, 2019. Please submit comments to dpwdept@watertown-ma.gov. When submitting comments please reference "Stormwater Management Plan" in subject line of email. 

October 2018:

On October 1, 2018, the Town submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the 2016 permit. The NOI contains basic information about the Town’s stormwater system and a general outline of steps the Town will take to comply with the new permit requirements.

Notice of Intent for Coverage under Small MS4 General Permit (October 2018) (PDF)

Previous NPDES Annual Reports

NPDES PII Small MS4 General Permit Annual Report 2017-2018 (PDF)      

NPDES PII Small MS4 General Permit Annual Report 2016-2017 (PDF) 

NPDES PII Small MS4 General Permit Annual Report 2015-2016 (PDF)

NPDES PII Small MS4 General Permit Annual Report 2014-2015 (PDF)