Wichita, KS Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

The general prohibition in Sec. 020(A) makes it unlawful to introduce, or cause to be introduced, any discharge into the MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Subsection B then lists roughly 17 categories of nonstormwater flow the city treats as acceptable rather than violations: NPDES-permitted discharges, emergency firefighting flows, uncontaminated fire protection water, water line flushing, lawn watering and landscape irrigation, diverted stream flow, uncontaminated pumped or rising groundwater, foundation and sump pump drainage, potable water discharges free of harmful residue, unmixed air conditioning condensation, individual residential car washing, riparian or wetland flows, unpolluted street washing water, uncontaminated roof runoff, dechlorinated swimming pool water, and residential heat pump discharge.

Subsection C removes that safe harbor: if the director determines a listed discharge is a source of pollutants to the MS4 or waters of the United States, gives the discharger written notice of that determination, and the discharge continues more than ten days after notice, it becomes prohibited despite appearing on the acceptable list. 32's purposes, set out in Sec. 010, tie the ban to protecting surface and groundwater quality, complying with the city's federal NPDES stormwater permit, and managing local floodplains; the director administers the chapter and may issue a Storm Water Manual with enforceable BMP standards.

Enforcement runs through Sec. 100: before any penalty, the city typically issues a notice of violation detailing the problem and a deadline to fix it, unless the director finds the violator has repeatedly ignored the rules. Violations trigger three possible tracks: a misdemeanor criminal penalty, a stop work order halting construction activity at the site, or an administrative penalty. Enforcement authority under Sec. 130 extends to Office of Central Inspection deputies, Public Works and Utilities personnel, and the City Health Officer.