Understanding MS4 Expectations for a Complete Stormwater Infrastructure Record

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits rest on a simple idea: you cannot manage what you have not first documented. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines an MS4 as any publicly owned system of drains, pipes, ditches, or similar conveyances that carries runoff to waters of th…continue

From Paper Plans to GIS: Digitizing Historic Drainage Records

Every municipality owns drawers, or entire vaults, of ageing drainage “plan sets”: linen originals from the 1930s, blueprint mylars from the 1960s, contractor mark-ups from a 1998 sewer separation project, and everything in-between. Transforming those static sheets into a living GIS data…continue

How to Create a Drainage System Map

An essential guide for municipalities, engineers, and field teams Mapping a drainage system is a critical task for municipalities aiming to improve stormwater management, identify illicit discharges, support maintenance planning, and ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., MS4). A well-structured draina…continue

How to Map Municipal Drainage Systems: A Step-by-Step Guide for Local Governments

Municipal drainage systems are often out of sight—and, unfortunately, out of mind. Yet, these underground networks are vital to public safety, environmental protection, and infrastructure longevity. Accurate mapping of stormwater infrastructure is not only a best practice - it’s an opera…continue