Environmental Management Division

Water Quality Protection Ordinance

Clean, healthy streams are important for Rockville - not just for the plants, insects and other animals that call these waters home but also for human enjoyment, protection of drinking water and the downstream health of the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.  To better protect our water resources, the City of Rockville created a Water Quality Protection Ordinance.  The Ordinance has the following objectives:

• Protection of surface and ground waters within the City
• Prolonging the useful life of the City's storm drains and sanitary sewers
• Safeguarding the City employees working in the storm drains and sanitary sewers
• Ensuring that the City remains in compliance with its Clean Water Act and NPDES requirements

These objectives are met by creating a series of "prohibited discharges", establishing a duty to mitigate and report these discharges, exempting a series of acceptable discharges, and clarifying the City's ability to conduct inspections and enforce the ordinance.

The Mayor & Council introduced the Water Quality Protection Ordinance at the March 19, 2007 Mayor & Council meeting.  A public comment period was opened, ending Monday June 18, 2007.  A public hearing on the ordinance was held at the May 14, 2007 Mayor & Council meeting.  The final ordinance was then presented at the July 2, 2007 Mayor & Council meeting for Discussion & Instructions.  The ordinance was then officially adopted at the July 16, 2007 Mayor & Council meeting.

• Adopted Water Quality Protection Ordinance (pdf)

Questions about the Water Quality Protection Ordinance can be submitted to the Environmental Management Division at environment@rockvillemd.gov.