MS4 Program

MS4 Annual Reports: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a publicly-owned conveyance or system of conveyances (i.e., ditches, curbs, catch basins, underground pipes, etc.) that is designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water and that discharges to surface waters of the State. To name a few examples, a MS4 can be operated by municipalities, counties, drainage districts, colleges, military bases, or prisons.

The University of Memphis operates a Phase II MS4. The MS4 is governed by the State of Tennessee National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit is required by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act of 1972.

Our goals as an MS4 are to:

• Reduce any discharge of pollutants that could be transported through our MS4s and carried untreated to pollute our local bodies of water.
• Protect water quality
• Satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act.

In order to achieve these goals the University of Memphis is required to satisfy six minimum control measures as outlined below.

1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Participation/Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
4. Construction Site Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Runoff Control
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

CLICK HERE to view the UofM MS4 Management Plan.