San Antonio | Bexar County Stormwater Requirements

Bexar County, which includes the city of San Antonio, sits on top of the Edwards Aquifer.  Edwards provides drinking water to Bexar County, so special attention is placed on stormwater quality in this region of the state.  The aquifer is recharged with rainwater.  So it makes sense that extra attention is placed on filtering that rainwater to a higher standard as it will eventually percolate to the aquifer below.  To that end, the list of approved treatment BMPs (Best Management Practices) is rather small and includes the Austin Sand Filter as well as a select few end-of-pipe multi-stage treatment systems, as well as batch ponds.

The choice of the system employed is decided by the P.E. during the design phase, but maintenance and permitting are the responsibility of the owner.  After construction, the P.E. will provide certification that the BMP(s) are in place and functioning properly. 

Additionally, a record of maintenance affidavit will need to be recorded and a certified maintenance provider will need to be identified. Submittal of these documents will trigger a review by the county to verify that the system is in place and the documents submitted are valid.  After approval, the owner will need to keep up with maintenance and permit documentation to include:

• Quarterly Maintenance Reports- These reports need to be submitted to Bexar County quarterly to keep the permit in good standing.  If reports are not received by the county, a violation will be sent to the owner requiring that a Texas-licensed P.E. certify the system to renew the permit.  

• Maintenance Provider Certification- The owner will need to either take a course on proper BMP maintenance and obtain a certification, or hire a certified maintenance provider to inspect and maintain the facilities.  The certification needs to be submitted to Bexar County for review and acceptance.

• Permit Renewal- The Stormwater Quality Permit must be renewed annually.  Other triggers include a change in ownership or a  violation, both of which require immediate permit renewal, regardless of the permit anniversary.

Contact us today to schedule a complimentary site inspection. We can meet you on-site if preferred to walk you through the renewal process and your responsibilities as the owner of the permit or agent for the owner.