Environmental
Duties & Responsibilities
To ensure the general health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Dinwiddie County and protect the quality of local waters from the potential harm of unmanaged stormwater, including protection from land-disturbing activities causing unreasonable degradation of properties, water quality, stream channels, and other natural resources, and to establish procedures whereby stormwater requirements related to water quality and quantity shall be administered and enforced.
What is Stormwater Pollution?
Stormwater runoff is one of the nation’s leading causes of water pollution. Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It flows over impervious and other hardened or disturbed surfaces like parking lots, roads, driveways, rooftops, construction sites, etc. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports trash and debris, chemicals, sediment, and pollutants. These pollutants are then carried into creeks, rivers, local ponds, rivers and streams by way of natural conveyances and storm sewer systems.
What are the Effects of Stormwater Pollution?
Polluted stormwater degrades our waterways and wetlands. Nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, can cause the overgrowth of algae resulting in oxygen depletion in waterways. Toxic substances from motor vehicles and careless applications of pesticides and fertilizers threaten water quality and can kill fish and other aquatic life. Bacteria from animal wastes and improper connections to storm sewer systems can make lakes and waterways unsafe for wading, swimming, and fish consumption. Eroded soil is classified as a pollutant as well It clouds the waterways and interferes with the habitat of fish and plant life. All these pollutants and toxins adversely affect the quality, increase the peak of stormwater flow rates, and cause erosion and further deteriorate the health of our waters, many of which are a source of drinking water.
Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP)
Dinwiddie County is the administrator of their Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) per the Virginia Stormwater Management Act.
Stormwater Management Permit
You must obtain a Stormwater Management Permit if:
- Construction activities result in land disturbance equal to or greater than one (1) acre.
- Construction activities that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale that ultimately result in land disturbance equal to or greater than one (1) acre. A larger common plan of development or sale is a contiguous area where separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules. A permit is required if one or more acres of land will be disturbed, regardless of the size of the individually owned or developed sites.
- Click here to determine if you need a Stormwater Management Permit.
Stormwater Management Permit for Single-Family
Instead of obtaining a full Stormwater Management Permit, in certain circumstances, the State allows for single-family detached structures to submit an Agreement in Lieu of stormwater plans.
- Single-family detached residential structures that disturb less than one acre of land and are not part of a larger common plan of development or sale (e.g., subdivision), including additions or modifications to existing single-family detached residential structures, do not require coverage under the general permit.
- Single-family detached residential structure that disturbs less than one acre of land that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale (e.g. subdivision) currently under construction where the SFD is not being built by the same party listed on the subdivision VSMP, requires coverage under general permit from the State. At the time of building permit application, the applicant shall complete the Single-Family Agreement in Lieu of Stormwater Management Plan and a $209 County fee will be assessed. Operators shall comply with the general permit's terms and conditions, including preparing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
- Any single-family detached residential structures that disturb equal to or greater than one acre of land and the SFD is not being built by the same party listed on the subdivision’s current VSMP, require coverage under the general permit from the State. At the time of building permit application, the applicant shall complete the Single-Family Agreement in Lieu of Stormwater Management Plan and a $209 County fee will be assessed. Operators of these land-disturbing activities are authorized to discharge under the general permit and are not required to submit a separate Stormwater Management Permit for the State portion of the permit fee. Operators shall comply with the general permit's terms and conditions, including preparing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
- Any single-family detached residential structures that disturb equal to or greater than (5) acres of land require a separate Stormwater Management Permit from the County.
- Click here to determine if you need a Stormwater Management Permit.