Storm Water Pollution Prevention

Runoff from precipitation on our campuses, whether from rain or snow melt, flows to storm sewers.  Most of these storm sewers run directly to the bodies of water in and around our campuses, with no treatment to remove pollutants.  Many pollutants can have a significant and direct effect upon these bodies of water, impacting sensitive wetlands and in severe situations posing a threat to the surrounding communities.

Because of this, it is important that we protect the environment that we all share.  The best way to protect this environment from harm is to prevent polluting materials from entering the storm sewer system.  To help keep our waterways clean, OCC has developed a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) for the campuses.  These plans have been created in compliance with the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and associated state and federal rules and regulations.

In particular, OCC is subject to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) regulations.  These regulations treat our campuses as if they were small cities, and as such we share many of the same obligations as the communities surrounding us as it pertains to storm water runoff.

Depending upon the location, the runoff from the campus enters either the Clinton River or Rouge River watersheds.  Each watershed has its own concerns, with potentially different approaches to pollution prevention.

There are many things that you can do to help keep our waterways clean.

  • Never dump chemical products down a storm drain.
  • Place trash in proper receptacles.
  • Do not throw cigarette butts on the ground.
  • Reduce the amount of salt used during winter.
  • Reduce the amount of pesticides used, and try to apply them in areas where it is less likely they will be carried by runoff to the storm drains.
  • Keep outdoor trash bins covered to keep precipitation out.
  • Report any signs that chemicals (including gasoline or antifreeze) might be entering the storm sewer system by calling Public Safety at 911 (if it's an emergency) or 5555 from a campus phone ((248) 858-4911 from any phone) for non-emergencies.

Part of our efforts to keep our waterways clean will involve increasing the public's awareness of the causes and methods of prevention of storm water pollution. This will be done through partnerships with local and regional organizations involved in maintaining pollution-free waters.

Follow the link to view a copy of OCC's Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP).

Additional resources and information on storm water pollution prevention and waterway management can be found at:

For more information, you can contact the OCC Manager of Environmental Health and Safety at (248) 232-4633, or maschmid@oaklandcc.edu.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Michael Schmidt
Manager of Environmental Health and Safety
Phone  (248) 232-4633