Developers and Contractors

Developers and contractors doing work in the City have a responsibility to protect our waterways as well. A series of best practices and regulations regarding catch basin protection and erosion and settlement control practices can be found below. For information regarding the Stormwater Control Permit please click here and see Wastewater and Stormwater Guidance below.

Wastewater and Stormwater Guidance:

The Wastewater and Stormwater Management Guidance document was developed to provide guidance for construction projects and development and redevelopment projects in the City of Cambridge (City) to ensure that measures are taken throughout the project to address erosion, nonpoint source pollution, and flood control. These measures are necessary to protect the City of Cambridge’s infrastructure, and natural Water Resources, and to ensure that the City complies with the provisions of the Clean Water Act and the City’s permits issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs specific to stormwater (Phase II) and Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO). Water conveyed through the City’s combined sewer and stormwater drainage systems to the Charles River, Little River, Alewife Brook and other water bodies within the City is regulated by these permits. Water Resources, as referred to throughout this Guidance document, are lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater.

This DPW guidance document is in the process of being updated and is expected to be available in 2020.

Note that NOAA Atlas 14, Volume 10, which was released in 2015, superseded the Weather Bureau Technical Paper 40 (TP40). The DPW moved towards using NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data in 2016 and is now requiring its use in supporting documentation submitted with permit applications. All project proponents are encouraged to consult with the DPW before proceeding.

NOAA Precipitation Frequency Data Server (PFDS)

Wastewater and Stormwater Management Guidance_ Draft_May 2008

Appendix A: Best Management Practices_Draft_March 2008
Appendix B: Common Pollutants_Draft_January 2008
Appendix C: TMDL Information_Draft_January 2008
Appendix D: Technical Basis for Stormwater Quantity Guidelines_Draft_January 2008
Appendix E: Example Calculations for Water Quality Control Runoff Volume_Draft_January 2008
Appendix F: NRCS Design Storm Distributions_Draft_January 2008 - Project Proponents should be using NOAA Atlas 14 Rainfall Data
Appendix G: Stormwater Control Permit Checklists_September 2019