About SASWA

Did you know that in Saginaw County, we are part of a fresh water system that accounts for 20% of the world’s fresh water? 

Some of our daily activities can adversely affect this fresh water resource that millions use for drinking water, providing food, and recreational activities. We have a responsibility to protect this valuable resource. Prior to the Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) there was no national system to evaluate the quality of storm water being discharged into our streams, rivers, and lakes. The CWA prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into waters of the United States from a point source unless a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit authorizes the discharge. On March 10, 2003 Phase II of the NPDES permitting system and its accompanying rules and regulations related to municipalities, construction and industrial sites discharging storm water came into effect. The affected municipalities in the Saginaw Urbanized Area formed the Saginaw Area Storm Water Authority in an effort to meet the state and federal storm water regulations. It is the vision of this Authority to address water quality issues related to storm water, and educate the general public on.