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404 Chapter 12 Urban Runoff and Combined Sewer Overflow Management
3. Assessing alternatives: Determining the optimum mix of prevention and treatment
practices to address the problems of concern.
4. Developing and implementing the recommended plan: Defining the selected sys-
tem of prevention and treatment practices for addressing the pollution problems of
concern and developing a plan for implementing those practices.
Each regulatory program outlined in Table 12.3 addresses the same components of
water quality planning but uses different language to describe the process of each com-
ponent. For example, as a result of the differing regulatory approaches, municipalities
might independently conduct CSO and stormwater planning. Yet since these sources of
pollution often exist in the same watersheds and affect the same water resources, this
fractured approach is not desirable. To address urban runoff pollution control effectively,
communities must consider multiple pollution sources when planning to use a watershed
approach.
The planning approach (see Figure 12.4) is intended to offer municipal officials a sys-
tematic approach to developing an urban runoff pollution prevention and control plan. In
general, the planning process proceeds as follows:
1. Initiate program
2. Determine existing conditions
3. Set site-specific goals
4. Collect and analyze additional data
5. Refine site-specific goals
6. Assess and rank problems
7. Screen BMPs
8. Select BMPs
9. Implement plan.

Although the planning process generally is intended to be followed in sequence, the
process can always be altered depending on the specific situation. For example, a munici-
pality might already have begun planning to address certain sources (e.g., stormwater or
CSOs). In such cases, starting later in this planning process or integrating other sources
into the ongoing planning might be more efficient.
Goal setting and refinement is more appropriately shown as a parallel process rather
than a specific step. Only very general goals should be considered at the outset of a pro-
gram. Existing data should be assessed before setting any site-specific goals. As new data
are analyzed, new findings and issues are likely to emerge. Program goals therefore must
be reevaluated as the planning process progresses. Monitoring the effectiveness of what
has been implemented is very important. Because further planning typically will be re-
quired, the point of reentry in the planning process needs to be flexible.

12.3.2 Initiate Program
As a first step in the planning process, municipal officials undertaking urban runoff pollu-
tion prevention and control planning should develop an overall program structure. Early
considerations include organizing a program team; establishing communication, coordina-
tion, and control procedures for members of the planning team and other participants;
identifying tasks and estimating the number and types of personnel and other resources for
each task; and scheduling tasks.