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Council updates water-management policy to flag hazardous materials and stormwater controls
Summary
Council adopted changes to the city's Water Management Policy to explicitly reference pretreatment and MS4 (stormwater) programs and to require applicants to disclose potentially hazardous materials when applying for water service.
The Prescott City Council adopted an amendment to the city’s Water Management Policy to include explicit references to wastewater pretreatment and the municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) program and to require applicants for water service to disclose hazardous materials and potential pollutant discharges.
What changed: The adopted resolution adds language describing the city’s pretreatment program (to prevent pollutants from disrupting the wastewater-treatment process) and the MS4 stormwater program (to reduce pollutant discharge to surface waters). The water-service application form will now ask applicants to identify food-service, industrial, dental, vehicle-service and other activities that could introduce hazardous substances or pollutants to sewer and storm systems, and applicants will acknowledge responsibility for compliance and costs.
Why it matters: The additions formalize a previously decentralized set of programs in the water policy, making environmental-compliance expectations visible earlier in the development review process. City staff said the change helps identify potential pretreatment or stormwater permitting requirements when applicants file water-service applications so staff can direct applicants to the correct compliance programs before construction or operation begins.
Staff context and enforcement: Brian Reese, water-resource manager, and Chelsea Walton, community development director, said both pretreatment and MS4 programs already operate in the city under federal and state environmental rules; the policy amendment aligns the Water Management Policy with those operational programs and clarifies applicant responsibilities. Enforcement of pretreatment and stormwater code remains with the utilities and public-works departments; the city attorney may pursue civil or criminal penalties if voluntary compliance efforts fail.
Next steps: The updated water policy and the revised water-service application form will be used immediately for new water-service applications. Staff said that when potential pollutant risks are identified, applicants will be referred to the appropriate program and must bear the costs of compliance, including monitoring, permitting and any required on-site treatment.
