2022 National Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Needs Assessment Survey Results

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The Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Stormwater Institute (SWI) conducted the first national survey of municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permittees in 2018 with a follow-up survey in 2020. Like the previous two surveys, the 2022 survey results are statistically significant1 and responses were received from 47 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The fundamental objectives of these surveys are:

• to identify the information and resource needs of MS4 permittees,

• to better understand MS4 program challenges, and

• to approximate current funding levels and estimated funding needs in the MS4 sector.

In addition, the 2022 survey covers topics such as well-developed, least-developed, and most innovative aspects of stormwater programs. Resilience planning was also included in the survey to capture the incidence of this planning currently and in the future of stormwater programs and the future challenges associated with it.

Approximately 93% of responses in the 2022 survey came from Phase I and Phase II MS4s. Of these responses, approximately 21% were from Phase I communities and 72% from Phase II communities. The remainder of responses came from nontraditional MS4 Phase II permit holders and state departments of transportation (DOTs). Respondents were generally representative of the geographic distribution of MS4s across the United States for both surveys.

The survey was comprised of questions to gather basic information on stormwater programs (size, type of permittee), yes/no-based questions on various aspects of stormwater issues and topics, and several multiple choice questions focusing on stormwater program challenges and needs. Weighted average scores using a 1 through 5 rating system were used in the report to efficiently capture respondent ratings in a single metric.

Responses of 4 or higher reflect strong interest or support for topics. The percentage of responses at this 1Sample of municipal respondents is statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval, with a 5% margin of error.