• LID Practices and Controls
• Economic Assessment of LID
• Water Quality Data
• Policy and Ordinance Considerations
• Additional Information

1. Reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable (MEP);

2. Protect water quality; and

3. Satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act.

In the Rule, EPA also established six minimum control measures that Phase II communities are required to implement: 

1. Public education and outreach;

2. Public participation / involvement;

3. Illicit discharge connection and elimination;

4. Construction site runoff control;

5. Post-construction runoff control; and

6. Pollution prevention / good housekeeping.

In addition to adopting the six minimum control measures, communities will also need to identify and select and a stormwater control strategy and BMPs that satisfy the maximum extent practicable standard.

LID controls can be incorporated into almost every section of urban and suburban environments including open space, rooftops, streetscapes, parking lots, sidewalks, and medians. This versatile approach can be applied equally well to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment / revitalization projects. LID provides numerous benefits and advantages over conventional stormwater management approaches.  The major benefits of LID include being a more environmentally and economically sustainable way to address the adverse impacts of urbanization. By managing runoff close to its source though intelligent site design, LID can enhance the local environment, protect public health, and improve community livability.

LID also simultaneously addresses community issues of aesthetics and land use. The numerous vegetated LID techniques instituted throughout a community increase green space and improves the aesthetics of urban and suburban areas. This facet of LID allows it to be integrated into the community planning process. Overall land use dedicated to stormwater management is decreased with LID as the size of large stormwater catchment basins is reduced or eliminated and replaced with micro-scale management practices.

LID can be used to satisfy five of the six minimum requirements of the Phase II rule. 

1. Public education and outreach

2. Public participation / involvement

3. Illicit discharge connection and elimination

4. Construction site runoff control

5. Post-construction runoff control

6. Pollution prevention / good housekeeping

1.   Public education and outreach – LID BMPs can serve as educational tools, facilitate awareness of the environment, and encourage stewardship. For instance, municipalities and community organizations have used rain barrel distribution and installation programs as a forum for public awareness about the effects and impacts of residential stormwater. The use of vegetated BMPs can also bring public awareness to the effects of urbanization on hydrology and the natural water balance. LID is a visible stormwater control system as opposed to conventional controls, which often are underground infrastructure components. 

2.   Public participation / involvement – LID BMPs are integrated into the community and offer aesthetic and social benefit. LID is flexible. The differing aesthetic appeals and stormwater management efficiencies of LID BMPs allow communities to evaluate competing options for balancing community aesthetics with necessary stormwater controls. For instance, a community has the ability to choose between BMPs that provide the necessary stormwater management and provide the aesthetic values which they seek. These characteristics encourage the public to participate in the design and upkeep of their communities.  

3.   Illicit discharge connection and elimination – LID will not contribute to satisfying this requirement. 

4.   Construction site runoff control – Applying LID controls and incorporating LID methods translates into smaller scale and incremental construction disturbances. Developing with LID reduces stormwater generation and sediment loss.  

5.   Post-construction runoff control – The foundation of LID is attempting to replicate pre-development hydrology in a developed environment. One of the primary benefits of LID is the ability to limit the volume and peak flow rates of stormwater discharges by utilizing the processes of infiltration, detention, interception, and evapotranspiration. The processes employed by LID provide effective runoff control and have been used to meet hydrologic regulatory requirements.  

6.   Pollution prevention / good housekeeping – LID is an effective pollution prevention strategy because it incorporates measures, such as street sweeping, that limit the creation or transport of pollutants. Vegetated LID controls generally do not require the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides limiting chemical and nutrient pollution. The use of native plants adjusted to local climatic conditions allows LID BMPs to naturally provide stormwater management with limited plant management and maintenance.