NFIP and NPDES in Stormwater Management

The City of Port Orange is presently involved with two significant regulatory programs that relate to stormwater management, pollution control, and flood protection. These programs are the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The NFIP is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administered program. The NPDES is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administered program through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

The City of Port Orange also participates in a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities, which is called the Community Rating System (CRS) program. This program provides incentives for communities to go beyond the minimum floodplain management requirements to develop extra measures to provide protection from flooding. The incentives are in the form of premium discounts of up to 45%. FEMA through the CRS recognizes City of Port Orange as a ‘Class 7’ community. With this designation, all residents within the City of Port Orange that currently carry FEMA flood insurance qualify to receive 15% discount on their annual FEMA flood insurance policy premium.

The NPDES program provides a framework for Cities to obtain a permit for operation of the storm drainage system, otherwise referred to as MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). The Federal EPA has mandated that all Cities apply for a NPDES permit. The purpose of the NPDES permit is to set minimum goals and standards that a community utilizes to monitor and regulate stormwater runoff for pollutants, which is transported to the storm drainage system and ultimately discharged into local rivers and streams such as the Halifax River, Rose Bay, and Spruce Creek. Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles. When deposited into nearby waterways through storm-drains, these pollutants can impair the waterways, thereby discouraging recreational use of the resource, contaminating drinking water supplies, and interfering with the habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife. The City of Port Orange participates in this program and maintains the NPDES permit.

Community Involvement

Homeowners in Port Orange are encouraged to take the free online certification course offered by The University of Florida Agricultural Center - Volusia County Cooperative Extension Services on “Florida Yards & Neighborhoods” that educates them on Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Stormwater Management. Certification is available to any interested resident. Click here for details about this course.

Community Rating System Progress Report

This report is prepared for submittal for continued credit under the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). It is designed to provide a short update and report on accomplishments toward implementing the community’s repetitive loss plan. It is submitted to the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of its annual CRS recertification.Click here to view the report.