MS4 Stormwater Permit

The General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems in Massachusetts also known as the MS4 Permit, is a permit issued by the EPA in an effort to improve water quality in our waterbodies. It prescribes a variety of actions required by municipalities to reduce pollutants entering our stormwater systems and water bodies from urbanized areas. The required actions are separated into six categories called Minimum Control Measures (MCMs). The six MCMs are:

  • MCM1: Public Education and Outreach
  • MCM2: Public Participation
  • MCM3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • MCM4: Management of Construction Site Runoff
  • MCM5: Management of Post-Construction Site Runoff
  • MCM6: Good Housekeeping in Municipal Operations

More information about the permit can be found on the EPA's site for the Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit.

Stormwater Management Program

The Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) is the document that details the town's plan to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit. It is a living document that will be updated as required to reflect our latest plans for permit compliance.

The SWMP is required to be publicly accessible and the public is encouraged to share their thoughts on the program. We encourage you to review the document at the link below and share any comments, questions, or concerns by emailing the Stormwater Management Program. View the Southbridge Stormwater Management Program - Last Updated September 18, 2019 (PDF).

Stormwater By-law

The Stormwater By-law was passed by Town Council on November 1, 2021, after readings at three Town Council meetings (10/4/2021, 10/18/2021, and 11/1/2021). The Stormwater Management Rules & Regulations were approved by Town Council on November 15, 2021. 

Other MS4 Supporting Materials

A variety of other documents including our Notice of Intent, IDDE Plan, standard operating procedures, educational materials, and annual reports can be found on the NPDES MS4 Permit Support Materials page.