SITE #1 Stormwater Outfall, Northport, Alabama | United States

SITE #1 is a stormwater outfall located in Northport, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States. As a stormwater outfall, it serves as a discharge point for stormwater runoff from the surrounding urban catchment. The facility is operational and falls under the regulatory oversight of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, which governs stormwater discharges in urbanized areas. In Alabama, stormwater outfalls like SITE #1 are typically part of Phase II MS4 permits for small municipalities, requiring implementation of best management practices to reduce pollutant loads. The facility's location in Northport, a city within the Tuscaloosa metropolitan area, suggests it manages runoff from residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Common stormwater management practices include detention basins, vegetated swales, and catch basin inserts to control flow and improve water quality. The environmental significance of SITE #1 lies in its role in conveying stormwater to local water bodies, such as the Black Warrior River, which is a major waterway in Alabama. Proper management of stormwater outfalls is critical to prevent flooding, erosion, and pollution from urban runoff, which can carry sediments, nutrients, heavy metals, and pathogens. Compliance with NPDES permit requirements helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and public health.

The facility discharges stormwater into the Black Warrior River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for recreation and water supply. Urban runoff from Northport and Tuscaloosa can introduce pollutants such as sediment, oil, and bacteria, potentially impairing water quality. The NPDES MS4 program requires the facility to implement stormwater control measures to minimize these impacts and protect the river's ecological health.