Stormwater
Now Accepting Public Comments for Farmington Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan through Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and Standard Operating Procedures (PDF)
The City of Farmington is accepting public comments on the city's Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) through Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025. The SWPPP outlines the city's programs and policies for reducing stormwater pollution and is required by State and Federal governments. Comments are accepted through the following methods:
Mail:
City of Farmington
Attn: McKenna Anderson
430 Third Street
Farmington, MN 55024
Email:
Phone:
651-280-6809
More on municipal stormwater permitting in Minnesota can be found on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the rainwater or melted snow that flows off streets, lawns, and other surfaces. As this water moves, it collects pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, dirt, pet waste, road salt, bacteria, and more. It then travels through storm drains, ditches, and stormwater ponds, ultimately reaching streams, rivers, or lakes.
Who does polluted stormwater affect and how?
- Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people.
- Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow. Sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats.
- Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can't exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
- Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.
- Debris (such as plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, cigarette butts) washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life, like ducks, fish, turtles and birds.
- Household hazardous wastes, like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil and other auto fluids, can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick or die from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.
- Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources, affecting human health.
A 1987 amendment to the Federal Clean Water Act required the implementation of a regulatory program to address stormwater runoff and its associated pollutants.
Farmington is required to follow National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for cities with a population of over 10,000 persons. At a state level, the program oversight is by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
The MPCA develops the statewide permitting minimum requirements and each regulated entity must develop and submit a program every five years detailing how the requirements will be met. The permit is designed to prevent items considered pollutants from being washed by stormwater runoff into the municipal storm sewer and then discharged from the storm sewer into local waterbodies.
The MPCA reissued the NPDES Phase II permit in October 2021, requiring municipalities to submit a revised application and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) document. The approved permit is available (download the MS4 Issuance of Permit Coverage Letter (PDF)), and at City Hall, Engineering Department office (430 Third Street).
The program needs to address six minimum control measures that are outlined in the permit requirements. For all minimum control measures, the city was required to create best management practices to fulfill the permit requirements.
- Public Education and Outreach - The city distributes educational materials and performs outreach to inform citizens about the impacts of polluted stormwater runoff and its effect on water resources.
- Public Participation/Involvement - The city will provide opportunities for citizens to participate in program development and implementation.
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination - The city has developed and will implement a plan to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm sewer system.
- Construction Site Runoff Control - The development, implementation, and enforcement of an erosion and sediment control program for construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land.
- Post-Construction Runoff Control - The city will develop, implement, and enforce a program to address discharges of post-construction stormwater runoff from new development and redevelopment areas.
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping - The development and implementation of a program with the goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from city municipal operations.
The City’s plan for addressing these six minimum control measures can be found in the city of Farmington’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and Standard Operating Procedures (PDF).
A stormwater pond is a constructed basin designed for the purpose of capturing and storing stormwater runoff in order to prevent or mitigate downstream water quantity or quality impacts. The city of Farmington has almost 200 ponds within the city limits, of which, the majority of these ponds are owned by the City of Farmington. City staff periodically inspects these stormwater ponds to ensure the ponds function as they are supposed to. For more information about how the city manages stormwater ponds, please see the Stormwater Pond and Buffer Management page.
1. Volunteer
Visit our Volunteer Opportunities Page to learn about the city's volunteer opportunities.
2. Conserve Water
Water is one of the most valuable resources we have in the world.
- Water the lawn only when needed. If the grass springs back up after you step on it; it does not need water.
- Don't water the pavement. Position sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn or garden, not in areas where it is not needed.
- Sweep your driveway and sidewalk. Avoid hosing your driveway and sidewalk where polluted water can run into a street or storm drain. This can save gallons of water.
3. Practice Good Lawn Care
Your lawn care choices directly affect water quality.
- Limit the amount of chemicals you use on your lawn. Those excess chemicals will eventually make their way into the water.
- Keep the pavement clean. Sweep all grass clippings and fertilizer off driveways, sidewalks, and streets; then spread them back on your lawn.
- Clean up pet waste by picking it up, bagging it, and putting it in the trash. Pet waste contains bacteria that may be harmful to health.
4. Leave a buffer
A buffer is a strip of tall native vegetation that will improve water quality in many ways.
- A buffer filters contaminants from your yard before reaching the water.
- Vegetation stabilizes the soil to help prevent erosion.
- A buffer will discourage geese and ducks from using your property as a gathering place.
5. Plant Native Plants
Native species of plants are beautiful and help the environment.
- Native plants are hardiest in our climate; they will last through the winter and be able to live through the conditions each season brings.
- Once the plants are established they require low maintenance.
- Native plants are resistant to most diseases and pests. Your native plants will attract many beautiful birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
6. Keep Chemicals Out
Anything that enters a storm drain goes directly to local ponds, wetlands, and streams; it does not go to a wastewater treatment facility.
- Use a drain pan to catch automotive fluids when changing oil, antifreeze, or other fluids.
- Do not dump chemicals such as paint, motor oil, and cleaning solutions into the storm drains.
- Visit the Dakota County website for information on household hazardous waste.