West Hartford, CT Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 148, adopted by the Town Council on June 12, 2018, exists to satisfy the town's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit obligations under the federal Clean Water Act. Section 148-1 states the chapter's purpose as regulating nonstormwater discharges into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to the maximum extent practicable, prohibiting illicit connections and discharges, and establishing authority for inspection, surveillance and monitoring. Section 148-2 defines an 'illegal discharge' as any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the storm drain system except as exempted under § 148-8, and defines 'pollutant' broadly to include paints, solvents, automotive fluids, yard waste, litter, pesticides, fertilizers, hazardous substances, sewage and animal waste.

The Director of the Community Development Department administers and enforces the chapter under § 148-4, with authority delegated in writing to staff, including the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District's Director. Enforcement runs through a written notice of violation that can require monitoring, elimination of illicit connections, cessation of the violating activity, remediation, payment of costs, or installation of best management practices. A violator who fails to correct the problem can be billed for the town's abatement costs, which become a lien on the property if unpaid, and the town can also seek injunctive relief and treat an ongoing violation as a public nuisance under §§ 148-20 and 148-21. An aggrieved party has 30 days to appeal a notice of violation, with a hearing held within 15 days of the appeal.