A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances (roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, storm drains, etc.) that is also:

  • owned or operated by a public entity (which can include cities, townships, counties, military bases, hospitals, prison complexes, highway departments, universities, sewer districts, etc.)
  • designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater
  • not a combined sewer
  • not part of a publicly owned treatment works

MS4s in Missouri must satisfy the requirements of the MS4 general permit if they are at least one of the following:

  • located in an urbanized area and used by a population of 1,000 or more
  • owned by a municipality with a population of 10,000 or more
  • includes a  population of at least 5,000 and the system discharges to specially classified bodies of water

The MS4 general permit is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering state waters from stormwater systems. Entities regulated by the MS4 general permit must develop a stormwater pollution prevention program and adopt best practices. A general permit covers multiple entities with similar operations and types of discharges. Issuing general permits allows for faster and more efficient permitting compared to issuing individual permits.

Visit the department's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) website for additional information.

Length of Permit

The department issues this general permit for a five year period.

Laws, Rules and Regulations:

How to Apply

Application

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Fact Sheets

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Fees

  • $250 annual permit fee

Timeline/ Process

Public Participation

Administrative Hearing Commission

Anyone who is adversely affected by the director's decision to issue, deny, suspend or revoke a permit must appeal within 30 days of the decision to the Administrative Hearing Commission as provided by 621.250.3 RSMo. All appeals must be filed by petition and send to:

Administrative Hearing Commission
PO Box 1557
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-2422
Fax: 573-751-5018
Website: Administrative Hearing Commission

Requirements

Operator Certification

The use or operation of this facility shall be in accordance with Operator Certification requirements 10 CSR 20-9. Certified wastewater operators perform the daily operational activities at the facility to ensure they are discharging treated wastewater in an environmental safe manner to Missouri’s rivers, lakes and streams. Visit the department’s website to learn more about the Operator Certification program.

Wastewater Construction Permit

This master general permit does not cover construction activities that may be required as part of the project. If you plan to construct, install or modify any earthen basin, collection system or wastewater treatment facility, you may be required to obtain a Site-Specific Wastewater Construction Permit.

Major Water User

Any surface or groundwater user with a water source and the equipment necessary to withdraw or divert 100,000 gallons (or 70 gallons per minute) or more per day combined from all sources from any stream, river, lake, well, spring or other water source is considered a major water user in Missouri. All major water users are required by law to register water use annually.

Reporting

Renewal

Unless terminated, the permittee shall submit the permit application listed above no later than 30 days prior to the permit’s expiration date for renewal. When a facility submits a timely and complete application and the department is unable through no fault of the permittee to issue a renewed permit prior to expiration of the previous permit. The terms and conditions of the expired permit are administratively continued and will remain fully effective and enforceable until such time when a permit action is taken. Failure to submit a renewal application is a violation of the Missouri Clean Water Law.

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