Stormwater

In April 2006 the County Board passed a resolution (PDF) adopting the Kankakee Stormwater Management Ordinance. This Ordinance enables the County to comply with all current federal and state laws and regulations applicable to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Provisions in the Ordinance include regulating drainage installations and improvements, requires the preservation and enhancement of certain natural environmental features, requires the installation of drainage improvements in developments, regulating uses, maintenance, and activities in floodplains and flood hazard areas, requires permits, payment of fees and assurances of completion and providing for inspections and control or work.

The purposes of the Ordinance are:

  • To maintain and improve the quality of water impacted by the storm drainage system within the jurisdiction.
  • To promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Kankakee County from the hazards of flooding.
  • To create a set of fair and consistent standards that will facilitate desirable and sustainable development.
  • To protect and conserve the natural resources.
  • To preserve property values by protecting new and existing buildings and improvements to buildings from damage due to stormwater flow.
  • To assure that new developments/redevelopments do not increase flood or drainage hazards to others, or create unstable conditions susceptible to erosion.
  • To preserve the natural characteristics of stream corridors in order to moderate flood and stormwater impacts and to protect water quality.
  • To prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater runoff and illicit discharge from industrial, commercial, residential and construction sites into the storm drainage system.
  • To promote public awareness of the hazards involved in the improper discharge of trash, yard waster, lawn chemicals, pet waster, wastewater, oil, petroleum products, cleaning products, paint products, hazardous waste, sediment and other pollutants into the natural and manmade storm drainage system.
  • To encourage recycling of used motor oil and safe disposal of other hazardous consumer products.
  • To facilitate compliance with state and federal standards and permits by owners of construction sites within the jurisdiction.
  • To enable the jurisdiction to comply with all current federal and state laws and regulations applicable to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements for stormwater discharges and prepare for future requirements. 
  • To prevent additional disruption of the economy and governmental services due to stormwater and flood drainage.
  • To protect the public from the degradation of water quality on a watershed basis and enhance the quantity and quality of potable groundwater and surface water supplies.
  • To protect the quantity and quality of wetlands.
  • To require the design and evaluation of each site stormwater management plan to be consistent with watershed capacities.
  • To require regular, planned maintenance of stormwater management facilities.
  • To encourage cooperation and consistency in stormwater management activities between units of government having floodplain and stormwater jurisdiction.
  • To lessen the taxpayer’s burden for flood-related disasters, repairs to flood-damaged public facilities and utilities, and flood rescue and relief operations.
  • To restrict development and building to facilities that will not adversely affect the potential for flood damage.
  • To require appropriate and adequate provision for site runoff control, especially when the land is developed with a large amount of impervious surface.

Listed below are just a few of the many purposes and benefits of this program, for additional information you may consult Section 109-106 of the County Code:

  • Comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
  • Ensures the protection and conservation of our natural resources.
  • Promotes and protects the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens from the hazards of flooding.
  • Assures that new developments/redevelopments do not increase flood or drainage hazards to others or create unstable conditions susceptible to erosion.
  • Protects the quantity/quality of wetlands.
  • Lessens the taxpayer's burden for flood-related disasters, repairs to flood-damaged public facilities and utilities, and flood rescue/relief operations.