By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays has adopted changes to the Stormwater Management portion of the city’s code. The ordinance amendment was approved by commissioners Thursday night.

Public Works Director I.D. Creech said the changes will bring the city into compliance with federal Clean Water Act requirements for “post construction” stormwater controls.

He outlined three major changes.

It will impose requirements on residential developments for stormwater management, and also change the current standards for storm sewer infrastructure–moving away from water in pipes to overland flows in new developments. Non-stormwater discharges causing problems with unpaved surfaces are added to the list of prohibited discharges.

“There will be some growing pains,” Creech cautioned.

“The new water quality requirements will initially be a challenge for developers and planning engineers, and upfront costs for developers will increase, but they may be offset with a reduction in infrastructure.”

In addition to bringing Hays into compliance with the EPA regulations, Creech listed reasons how the changes will benefit the city.

Creech said future new development will not increase flood flows and stormwater discharge from new and re-development should have less impact on Big Creek water quality.

Development and re-development should decrease nuisance flows and improve groundwater recharge and new development should have less negative impact on aquifer recharge. Removal of current exemptions allows for uniform application of stormwater controls based on proposed thresholds, Creech explained.

The 141-page Post Construction StormWater Best Management Practices (BMP) manual for the city of Hays is available online at:  http://www.haysusa.com/Post_Construction_BMP_Hays.pdf