Stormwater Management

Wilton's Stormwater Program

Wilton riverscape
Latest News

On the morning of Sunday, August 7^th, volunteers gathered at Cooley Park on the northwest side of town hall to help dig and plant a rain garden, an arrangement of plants meant to help direct and contain storm water runoff. For a full report and more pictures, CLICK HERE.

The purpose of the EPA’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program is to mitigate the effects of storm water pollution.

Rainwater that falls on paved streets, lawns, parking lots, and sidewalks becomes polluted stormwater. The more impervious the surface, the more stormwater runoff and impact to receiving water bodies. Typical pollutants in stormwater are trash, oil, fertilizers, sediment, sand, and bacteria. In fact, 40% of known pollution to the nation’s waters is caused by stormwater.

Wilton must comply with the requirements of MS4, and we have submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to comply. The links section of this page provides more details on our plans.

We have six ways we are working to clean up the stormwater in Wilton before it reaches our beautiful riverways.

1. Education

Get the Scoop on Poop! - Information from our Spokes-pooch for Dog Owners
Get Pumped! - Information for Homeowners with Septic Systems
Green Grass Clear Water - Information on how to maintain a healthy lawn and a healthy river
Developer Outreach Letters - Mailed in June 2022

2. Public Involvement

2022

Storm drain Murals
Mural at the Library

Storm drain murals! The students in Emily Hall's art class learned about stormwater, took a field trip to see stormwater infrastructure, and then each created a storm drain mural to remind viewers to be responsible stewards of our waterways.

In April 2022, three students painted their murals on storm drains in Wilton. There is one the Gregg Free and Wilton Public Librar Mural at FRES

y at the entrance from the back parking lot.

The Police Department has one next to their building reminding visitors not to dump trash. And Florence Rideout Elementary School has one mural were the frogs are looking at the trash and wondering what these strange lily pads are floating

the water.

All the student's murals are available at the Gregg Free and Wilton Public library. Check out this inspiring art show!

Road Side clean up of 68 miles of roads
Road side clean up flier

In a two week window of time, nearly 800 bags of trash were removed from 68 miles of roads in Wilton. This was a monumental effort That's a wrap

by everyone in town from kindergarteners to great grandparents! This event was incorporated into Earth Day celebrations at both public schools.

Blue bags were available at Town Hall as well as a few other locations.
And the fun continued afterward. An old tire dump was discovered and over 40 tires were removed as part of a team effort with residents, the DPW and the Recycling center!

2021

Drain Storm drain stenciling! - 10 students from High Mowing High School and two adults led the effort to stencil the storm drains in Wilton. Approximately 30 storm drains were stenciled in an afternoon. This gentle reminder helps keep solid waste out of the waterways of Wilton.

sign

Town-wide clean up - residents picked up over 73 bags of trash and solid waste. Residents picked up blue bags and gloves at various locations in Wilton including Town Hall. On clean up day, blue bags were gathered and transported to the Recycling Center by our Emergency Services Director, Dave Boissonnault. Participants were encouraged to post photos on social media with the #hashtag #NHMS4 and #Wilton4Stormwater.

2020

Michele Decoteau, Stormwater Manager was on the Podcast: Before the Checks are Signed on March 4, 2020, discussing stormwater and the MS4 Permit. Listen here!

2018

The presentation summarizes Wilton’s stormwater program plans and was approved at the Select Board meeting on October 22, 2018. Wilton's Stormwater Program presentation