PVCC Stormwater Program Overview

Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) owns and operates a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The College's MS4 consists of curb and gutter, drop inlets, ditches, and stormwater management facilities to convey, treat and ultimately discharge stormwater runoff to surface waters. The discharge of runoff from the MS4 is regulated under the Clean Water Act, as amended and according to the State, Water Control Law and regulations adopted. PVCC is authorized to discharge stormwater runoff from the college campus's MS4 under the Virginia Stormwater Management Program regulations, Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination  System Regulations (VPDES), and the Virginia State Water Control Law.

PVCC has been issued permit coverage to discharge stormwater by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and in accordance with the General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Small MS4s (General Permit). Compliance with the General Permit requires PVCC to develop, implement, and enforce an MS4 program. The guidance document that describes how the college will maintain compliance with the General Permit is the PVCC MS4 Program Plan. The Program Plan is required to include a description of the best management practices to address permit-specific requirements for the following minimum control measures (MCMs):

  1. Public Education and Outreach
  2. Public Involvement and Participation
  3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
  5. Post-construction Stormwater Management 
  6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

This webpage provides the PVCC MS4 Program Plan. PVCC encourages our students, faculty, and staff to review the plan and send any input or comments to kmcmanus@pvcc.edu.

Stormwater Program Documents

The PVCC MS4 Program Plan incorporates the following program-supporting stormwater program documents by reference:

PVCC demonstrates continued compliance with the MS4 General Permit with annual reporting. Annual reports for each year of the current permit cycle:

Illicit Discharges are Prohibited on Campus

An illicit discharge is anything that goes "down the drain" (curb inlet, drainage ditch, directly discharged to a stream, etc.) that is not entirely composed of stormwater. When source pollutants are introduced and mixed with the stormwater, you have an illicit discharge to the storm sewer system -- which drains directly to our surface waters. Stormwater is not treated before entering local surface waters such as creeks and streams. An illicit discharge can occur due to improper disposal, spills of potential pollutant sources, and pollution from land disturbance. Common pollutant sources associated with illicit discharge are listed below:

Automotive fluids (oil, fuel, antifreeze)Paints
Animal carcasses (bacteria)Pet waste (bacteria)
Cooking oil and greaseSolvents (i.,e. acetone, ethanol)
Chemical cleansers (e.,g. detergents, soaps)Salt and other deicing agents
Dumpster leachateSanitary sewer overflows
Misuse of fertilizerSediment (i.e., stockpiles, erosion)
Misuse of pesticides and herbicidesTrash
Landscaping waster (i.e., grass clippings)Vehicle/equipment wash water

PVCC policy prohibits non-stormwater (illicit) discharges, including illegal dumping, into the college's storm sewer system. Eliminating any sources of an illicit discharge and enforcing the prohibition are implemented by utilizing language within the Standards of Conduct for PVCC employees and the Student Handbook for PVCC students. Disciplinary action, including restitution, can be taken by the college in cases of negligent, willful, or continued cause of the illicit discharge.

Exempt discharges are not typically considered sources of illicit discharge.

Water Line flushingAir conditioning condensation
Landscape irrigationIrrigation water
Diverted stream flowsSprings
Rising groundwaterWater from crawl space pumps
Uncontaminated groundwater, infiltrationFooting drains
Uncontaminated pumped groundwaterLawn watering
Discharges from potable water sourcesIndividual residential car washing
Foundation drainsFlows from riparian habitats and wetlands
Dechlorinated swimming pool dischargesStreet wash water

Reporting a pollution concern or an illicit discharge

We can all help to keep pollution out of our local creeks and streams. If you observe an illicit discharge on campus or a potential source such as an animal carcass, open dumpster, sediment from a construction site, or other types of pollutant that could be exposed to stormwater, please report it using the PVCC Pollution Hotline: (434) 961-5448 or kmcmanus@pvcc.edu.

When reporting, please provide the following:

  1. Date of the observed potential or occurring illicit discharge
  2. Location of the observed potential or occurring illicit discharge; and
  3. Pollutant source, if known (i.e., spilled paint, trash, etc.)