Press Release
Transition of MCM 3 Outfall Screening Services to SWMD
Dec 10, 2025 - Summit County, OH
Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S. and the Summit County Surface Water Management District (SWMD) would like to alert residents and communities, that there is an important program transition that will streamline how local communities meet state and federal stormwater regulations.
Beginning January 2026, the SWMD will assume full coordination and management of Minimum Control Measure 3 (MCM 3) outfall screening, sampling, and reporting services for all member communities. These services are required under the Ohio EPA’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
“This transition allows us to centralize stormwater compliance efforts, reduce costs at the local level, and ensure consistency in how monitoring and reporting are carried out across member communities,” said County Engineer Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S. “Protecting water quality remains a shared priority, and this partnership helps strengthen that work.”
This change follows Summit County Public Health’s (SCPH) notice earlier this year that stated 2025 would be the final year of individual municipal contracts for these services.
A newly finalized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SWMD and SCPH ensures uninterrupted compliance with all regulatory requirements while simplifying responsibilities for our local governments.
Key Benefits of the Transition:
- No more individual community contracts or direct payments to SCPH for MCM 3 services.
- Program costs and administration will now be managed by the SWMD, reducing administrative burden on local jurisdictions.
- SCPH will continue carrying out outfall screening and sampling, completing the required monitoring of all outfalls on a five-year cycle.
- Collaborative support: Communities may occasionally be contacted for assistance if sample results indicate possible illicit discharges, though historically such incidents have been rare.
“This shift allows us to take on the coordination work so communities don’t have to.” said Stephanie Deibel, Stormwater Specialist (CPESC) at the Summit County Engineer’s Office. “SCPH will continue providing the field services, and we’ll handle the administrative and compliance pieces on the back end. It’s a practical change that helps everyone stay aligned with MS4 requirements.”
This program is part of the SWMD’s ongoing commitment to protecting water quality in the region and ensuring the health, safety, and enjoyment of our lakes, streams, and rivers. For additional information about the SWMD’s stormwater management efforts, including MCM 3 and other MS4 requirements, visit: www.summitengineer.net/pages/SWMD
