Water Quality
Water Quality
Benton County strives to reduce pollutants entering our ground and surface waters to ensure our water is drinkable, fishable, and swimmable. The county has established programs, control measures, and permit processes that help protect water quality so everyone can safely enjoy this critical natural resource.
How We Protect Water Quality
Benton County currently protects and improves ground and surface water quality for the community in several ways, including:
Protecting and conserving natural features like riparian corridor buffers on waterways, floodways, floodplains and certain wetlands
Reducing erosion and sediment on construction sites
Reducing and managing stormwater runoff
Tracking, managing and reporting pollutants entering a waterbody
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Reporting
Ensuring septic tanks do not leak and pollute ground water
Ensuring ground water is safe to drink
Forms You May Need
Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC)
This permit is necessary for if you plan to disturb or create a solid surface on at least one-quarter acre of land. To calculate your impact or disturbed area, use this worksheet.
This form is to ensure drinking water access and quality for new residential or commercial construction.
These forms are to apply or install septic in a new residential or commercial construction.
Your construction project may require this permit. To determine your impervious area, use this worksheet.
If you want your road to be applied annually with dust control treatment, fill out this application and pay the fees. Learn more.
Water Quality Concerns?
How Can We Help?
Additional Resources
Land Development Code
Riparian and Wetland Areas Protection – Zoning Overlay
Sensitive Fish and Wildlife Habitat – Zoning Overlay
Stormwater Preparedness & Solutions
Are You Prepared for Stormwater?
Volunteer to Improve Water Quality
Stormwater Management Plan and Best Practices
The Benton County Stormwater Program’s main goal is to reduce the amount of pollution and sediment entering our rivers and streams. We have administered a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater program since 2007 as part of the national Clean Water Act.
- The Benton County Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) outlines how we are meeting our permitting requirements through the NPDES.
- Benton County uses Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize environmental impacts during work in County facilities, roadways, and construction sites.
