Businesses

What is Stormwater? Town of Indian Head
Stormwater Resources
Stormwater is the water produced from
when rain, snow, sleet, etc. fall to earth. For more information regarding
This stormwater can either seep into the stormwater events, public meetings, and
ground or collect to potentially become a other public participation opportunities,
flood. please visit the Town website (listed
below). The Stormwater Management
To protect the people of the Town of subpage also contains links to the
Indian Head from flooding and water Town’s annual stormwater
quality, the Town has a series of drains, reports, ordinances, educational
pipes, and water quality improving Best information, and a list of helpful resources
Management Practices (BMPs) called a on a variety of stormwater-related topics.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(MS4). The MS4 directly drains to our
lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds so it
plays a very important part in keeping our
waters clean.

Did you know that every waterway in
Indian Head, is part of the Potomac River
Town of Indian Head Office What is
watershed? Any contaminants released 4195 Indian Head Hwy,
into our watersheds are contributing to the
degradation of many already in danger
Indian Head, MD 20640 Stormwater?
waterways. Indian Head is doing its part to —
protect local waterways by helping to keep
(301) 743-5511
For Local Businesses
the water clean before it reaches our
streams. You can help too, by following —
the advice in this pamphlet and by
https://www.townofindianhead.org
participating in local stormwater events.
 How can local businesses help reduce
What is a BMP? stormwater pollution? What is an Illicit Discharge?
You may have noticed man-made ponds, Much of the area in the Town of Indian Federal regulations define an illicit discharge
basins, and channels around the Town or Head is developed, with significant as “...any discharge to an MS4 that is not
on your property. Stormwater is collected composed entirely of stormwater.” This can
areas of impervious surfaces like your
and directed to these structures by a include cleaning products, lawn products,
network of pipes and inlets. These business or parking lot which is a large trash, and organic debris.
structures are called Best Management contributor to stormwater pollution. This
Practices, or BMPs. These structures help means that if everyone joins in, we can We ask the public to not contaminate our
remove pollutants from stormwater runoff make big changes to the quality of our stormwater system with items such as these.
prior to entering our natural waterways stormwater!
How can an Illicit Discharge be
Town staff will inspect these structures -Inspect/Maintain BMPs on their property Reported?
annually to ensure they are functioning as
designed. If you have a BMP on your -Clean Stormwater inlets, outlets, swales The Town has illicit discharge reporting
property which is not properly maintained, on property information on the Town’s Stormwater (MS4)
you may receive a notice from the Town to page. If you witness an illicit discharge,
-Ensure private on lot sewer systems are
repair the structure.
maintained please call The Town’s phone number (301-
743-5511).
Common maintenance issues include: -Collect waste from property (grass
clippings, leaves, sediment) so it does not Additional Resources
-Clogged inlets/outlets go into the stormwater system.
-Trash and debris Municipal Website
-Dead grass/vegetation -Limit the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and
deicers https://www.townofindianhead.org/index.asp?
-Structure erosion
SEC=C6E491F7-6823-4056-94FA-
-Sediment and organic waste build up
-Store materials, especially those that 0499B7DE7DC4&Type=B_BASIC
contain potential pollutants, indoors or
under a cover (overhead, tarp) County Website

https://www.charlescountymd.gov/governmen
t/planning-and-growth-
management/stormwater-management

Maryland DEP/EPA

https://mde.maryland.gov/Pages/index.aspx

US EPA

https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-
stormwater-program