BATAVIA, OH — Over the next year, Clermont County will be updating its Storm Water Management Plan, which creates and implements programs that reduce water pollution caused by storm water runoff. As part of the revision process, Clermont County is seeking feedback from residents and business owners on how to improve the program.

Since 2003, the Ohio EPA has required Clermont County and 14 urbanized townships and municipalities within the county to obtain a storm water discharge permit, and to develop a management plan that addresses pollution caused by storm water runoff. The Board of County Commissioners adopted the first plan in 2003, with updates in 2010 and 2016. A new set of revisions are now necessary to reflect improvements made to the program over the years, and to address new Ohio EPA permit requirements that went into effect in April 2021.

“It is important to note that the focus of this plan is improving the quality of our streams, rivers and lakes by reducing the amount of pollutants that are washed into them during a storm,” Clermont SWCD Administrator John McManus said. As required by the Ohio EPA, the plan must address six “minimum measures”: public education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction storm water management, and pollution prevention for local government activities. “The plan does not specifically address drainage or flooding problems, or the installation or repair of storm sewers,” added McManus.

A copy of the existing plan is available online at https://www.clermontswcd.org/storm-water-reports/; printed copies of the plan are available by contacting the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) at (513) 732-7075 ext. 3. Public comments on the existing plan will be accepted through June 1. Please email comments to jmcmanus@clermontcountyohio.gov, or mail them to Clermont SWCD, P.O. Box 549, Owensville, OH 45160. Clermont County will solicit additional public input once a draft revision has been completed.

For more information about the Clermont County Storm Water Management Plan, call (513) 732-7075 ext. 3, or email jmcmanus@clermontcountyohio.gov.