Stormwater

The Town of Greeneville is an EPA Phase II Stormwater Community. As such, the Town maintains an NPDES Stormwater Permit with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which authorizes discharges of stormwater from small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s).

Current Stormwater MS4 Report
Stormwater Ordinance
Stormwater MS4 Permit
Public Education & Outreach
Implementation Plan 2023

The permit authorizes stormwater discharges to waters of the state from the municipality. The MS4 is authorized to discharge the following non-stormwater sources, provided TDEC has not determined these sources to be substantial contributors of pollutants to the MS4:

  • Water line flushing

  • Landscape irrigation

  • Diverted stream flows

  • Rising ground waters

  • Uncontaminated ground water infiltration

  • Uncontaminated pumped ground water

  • Discharges from potable water sources

  • Air conditioning condensate

  • Irrigation water

  • Springs

  • Water from crawl space pumps

  • Footing drains

  • Lawn watering

  • Individual residential car washing

  • Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands

  • Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges

  • Street wash water

  • Discharges or flows from fire fighting activities

Stormwater Management Program

The Stormwater Management Program is made up of the following minimum control measures:

  • Public Education and Outreach

  • Public Involvement/Participation

  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

  • Construction Site Stormwater Runoff

  • Permanent Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment

Drainage Problems/Complaints

The Town of Greeneville maintains all of the drainage structures on public right-of-way. The Town does not maintain drainage structures (culverts, ditches, grates, etc.) on private property, unless the Town has a drainage easement with the property owner to do so.

From time to time, city residents experience drainage issues on their property as a result of run-off from adjacent property. It is important to remember that stormwater drainage in Tennessee is governed by the natural flow rule. Under the natural flow rule, the lower property owner is required to accept the water that would naturally flow from the upper land owner; he/she is not liable for any damages that arise from that natural flow.

Complaints may be reported to our Stormwater Hotline at 423-823-4013.

The Town of Greeneville participates in the Tennessee Stormwater Association (TNSA) TAB program to satisfy the PSA requirement of our stormwater permit. Those reports can be viewed under the documents section of this site.

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