About Our Storm Water Permit

MS4 Coverage Areas

The MS4 for San Antonio & Bexar County discharges water runoff to various drainage ditches, tributaries and other channels that eventually flow into the following San Antonio River Basin waterways:

• Medina River (Below Medina Diversion Lake)
• Lower Leon Creek
• Upper Leon Creek
• Upper Cibolo Creek
• Salado Creek
• Upper San Antonio River
• Medio Creek
• Mid Cibolo Creek

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

MS4 Permittees & Responsibilities

San Antonio’s Phase I MS4 Permit is held and administered by the following permittees:

• City of San Antonio – Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) Department
  
• San Antonio Water System (SAWS)

All permittees are responsible for conducting the following:

• Ensuring compliance with permit conditions related to discharges from portions of the MS4 for which each permittee owns and operates
• Implementation of an approved Storm Water Management Program (SWMP)
• Annual reporting
• Collection of representative wet weather monitoring data
• Plan of actions to assume responsibility for implementation of permit requirements on portions of the MS4 they own/operate if standing agreements are dissolved

MS4 - San Antonio Storm Water Management Program

Permit obligations include: 

• Preventing and prohibiting the discharge of pollutants into the MS4 to the Maximum Extent Practicable.
  
• Implementation of an approved Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) designed by the permittees which determines what measures must be in place in order to be in compliance.

The City of San Antonio SWMP consists of:

• Comprehensive outline of pollution prevention measures, treatment or removal techniques, storm water monitoring, use of legal authority and other appropriate means to control the quality of storm water discharged from the MS4.
• Identification of areas of jurisdiction for all permittees, as well as program element applicability on a specific area basis.

Under the Phase I MS4 permit, the City of San Antonio is required to oversee, manage and implement governing operations/measures for the following:

1. Structural controls and storm water collection system operations
2. Areas of new development and/or significant redevelopment
3. Roadways
4. Flood control projects
5. Pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer applications
6. Illicit discharges and improper disposal
7. Spill prevention and response
8. Industrial and high risk runoff
9. Construction site runoff
10. Public education/public participation
11. Monitoring program

Storm Water Fee

San Antonio City Ordinance establishes monthly storm water fees and rate schedules for San Antonio residents, businesses and other water users in order to help support operations, maintenance, engineering/design and capital improvements related to San Antonio’s storm water infrastructure.

The storm water fee is billed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS). All storm water operations, drainage maintenance and enhancement projects are managed and coordinated through the City’s Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) department.

COSA Transportation & Capital Improvements - Storm Water Utility Fee