The City of Waynesboro Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) was developed in an effort to mitigate flooding conditions and improve the overall quality of Stormwater runoff. Localized flooding is a serious issue that touches both residents and business owners in Waynesboro. The issue of water quality also impacts Waynesboro residents, although in a less direct way. Stormwater runoff contains pollutants that get deposited in our creeks, streams, and rivers. Protecting the water quality of Stormwater runoff ultimately results in protecting drinking water quality and the South River, Waynesboro’s most precious natural resource.

Stormwater Management is a dynamic concept for which new and innovative solutions are regularly developed.  The City of Waynesboro employs a well-trained, professional staff that works hard to maintain up-to-date knowledge of Stormwater Management principles and practices. 

The City of Waynesboro Stormwater Management Program is responsible for maintaining the City’s stormwater infrastructure, in addition to overseeing the planning and construction of new projects. The Waynesboro SWMP operates in accordance with guidelines set forth by the State of Virginia and the Federal Government. 

The Waynesboro SWMP team also works directly with residents to address community needs. Our goal is to constructively collaborate with citizens to best address the City’s stormwater issues and in most cases try to be proactive rather than reactive.

---

 

Erosion and Sediment Control

The purpose of the erosion and sediment control program is to maintain the quality of land, air, water and other natural resources within the City of Waynesboro in addition to preserving the welfare of those, whom reside within the entire watershed.  Erosion is a process that occurs naturally upon the land’s surface due to constant exposition to water, ice, wind and gravity. Construction and land development have proven to be significant catalysts in the erosion process; therefore standards and regulations have been established toward the control of erosion and sediment deposition to protect off-site properties. 
           
The City’s erosion and sediment control ordinance is a set of standards put forth to abide by in accordance with Virginia’s Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.  The original handbook was developed in 1974 for the establishment of localized Erosion and Sediment Control programs, which came about two years after the Clean Water Act was passed.  The purpose of the Act is to regulate the discharge of pollutants into United States Waterways and to maintain water quality that can provide a safe environment for recreational activities. 

The Clean Water Act addresses the two main types of pollution; point source and non-point source water pollution.  Here within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, non-point source pollution is the most significant source of destruction of the Bay and its tributaries. Virginia was placed under the category of urban non-point source pollution control under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987 making the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook the key guide in properly implementing erosion and sediment measures that are cost effective to developers all the while beneficial to our environment.
 

Applicable E&S Ordinance(s)

The minimum standards that are set forth by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Handbook and standards found within the Waynesboro City Ordinance, Chapter 30, apply to all land disturbance activity either of government or private entity.  City ordinance number 2006-98, amending and re-codifying City Code Chapter 30, Article II, “Erosion and Sediment Control” by repealing the current article II, Sections 30-26 through 30-34 and substituting an updated Article was adopted by the City Council of Waynesboro November 27, 2006 and became effective December 8, 2006.  This Chapter is authorized by the Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 5, Article 4 (Sec. 10.1-560 et seq.), known as the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law.

 

Applicable Permits

Land Disturbance Permits are issued by the City of Waynesboro Department of Public Works Engineering Division for all new residential construction and any site on which more than 10,000 square feet of area is disturbed.

New residential construction resulting in less than 10,000 square feet of disturbance requires an “Agreement in lieu of a Plan” Erosion and Sediment Control Permit.  This permit is issued with the intention of protecting neighboring properties, municipal storm sewers, and water resources without placing an undue burden on builders.  The City of Waynesboro Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector will visit the site prior to commencement of construction to determine what measures will be necessary to adequately contain sediment on the site during runoff producing events.  The permit holder is expected to regularly inspect and maintain these measures and keep municipal roadways free of sediment during construction.

Proposed projects with more than 10,000 square feet of disturbance are required to have an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and Stormwater Plan with all applicable plan review and inspection fees paid and a performance bond secured before the permit will be issued.  The plan review and inspection fees are intended to off-set the costs incurred by the City of Waynesboro during planning, design and construction phases of the project.

Plan Review and Inspections

The Plan Review process is an important part of the development of a functional Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. A site plan is required for all land disturbing activity that has an area greater than 10,000 square feet to be disturbed at one time. The City of Waynesboro employs a Plan Reviewer and Inspectors who are certified by the State of Virginia, Department of Conservation and Recreation.  These professionals work hard to ensure that structural measures are properly designed and fully illustrated on site plans.  This can benefit developers and contractors by minimizing unforeseen costs of additional measures needed to adequately contain or convey runoff from a construction site during the construction phase of a project.  The certified inspectors, who typically have a good working knowledge of a site, also review plans to determine what measures they know will be needed and what measures will not be feasible due to existing site conditions.  The City of Waynesboro is provided by the State of Virginia with 45 days from the date of plan submittal to provide comments on an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.  Delays in the plan review process can result from a failure to address the Plan Reviewer’s comments or serious deviations from the State of Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.  A complete plan submittal that addresses each item contained in the ‘Plan Review Checklist’ (Applicable Forms Section) is required, and it will aid in making the plan review process as efficient as possible.

All Details in plans submitted to the City of Waynesboro should conform to the State of Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.  Pre-fabricated measures or those contained in manuals produced by other agencies are acceptable provided the Plan Reviewer determines such measures will provide the same level of protection as those contained in the Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.

Once a land disturbance permit is obtained, a pre-construction inspection or conference upon plan-approved sites is performed at least 72 hours prior to initiating land disturbing activity.  The purpose is to convey the expectations of the contractor and site conditions throughout the entire development process.  Inspections of each site are done on a two week rotation and within 48 hours of runoff producing events to ensure that all erosion and sediment structural controls maintain proper functioning order.  Once construction is finalized and all disturbed ground that is not paved or stoned needs to be adequately top soiled, seeded and mulched with suitable measures to promote the establishment of a non-erodible surface.  Not until a City Inspector declares a uniform non-erodible vegetative cover has been established is the site released from its erosion and sediment control permit in concurrence with the releasing of bond if required.

If construction does not begin following the pre-construction meeting for unforeseen reasons, the City requires 48 hours notice prior to the commencement of construction.