Engineering - City of Somerset, Kentucky

The City of Somerset’s Engineering Department helps keep our water clean.

Part of keeping our water clean is improving the stormwater quality that drains from property into our storm sewer system and discharges to state waters, such as Lake Cumberland.

Somerset was granted the State of Kentucky Division of Water for a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. This five-year permit helps us improve water quality from our storm system by addressing six areas.

Public Education and Outreach
Public Involvement and Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (please report any suspected illicit discharge to the city engineer)
Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
Post-Construction Stormwater Management, and Pollution Prevention
Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
Several tasks and activities have been identified within each control measure.

The ultimate goal of each is to reduce the impact stormwater has on our local receiving streams, creeks and the lake.

What is stormwater and where does it come from?

Stormwater is any precipitation that collects in a natural or constructed storage or transport system following a storm event.

For example, during construction of a new building or neighborhood, sites are often cleared and the soil is firmly compacted. which prevents rainfall or snowfall from soaking into the soil. As a result, the rainfall streams along the surface of the ground. This is stormwater runoff.

After construction activities, impervious areas such as roads, roof tops, parking areas and sidewalks, prevent infiltration of moisture from rain and snowfall, which increases natural stormwater runoff.

This runoff can be too much for the existing natural drainage systems to handle.

As a result, natural drainage systems are often altered to rapidly collect runoff and convey it away (using curb and gutter, enclosed storm sewers, and lined channels). The stormwater runoff is then discharged to downstream waters such as streams, creeks and lakes.

Events & training

KEPSC Inspector Certification events are held several times throughout the year. You can check here to learn about and register for upcoming events.

Guidelines & applications

Annexation Survey Needs

Stormwater Ordinance

Site Plan Application

Annexation Application

Stormwater Quality Management Plan

Stormwater fee schedule

Residential Developments

Lots	Cost
1 to 4	$350
5 to 25	$500
26 to 75	$1,000
76 to 150	$1,500
150 or more	$2,500

Commercial Developments

Acres	Cost
Up to 5.0	$500
5.1 to 10.0	$1,200
10.1 to 25.0	$2,000
25.1 or more	$2,500

The Plan Review and Construction Site inspection Fee shall be adjusted from time to time by ordinance

Site plan checklist

SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN LIST FOR THE CITY OF SOMERSET, KY.

Existing contours at 1 foot intervals.
Finish contours at 1 foot intervals.
Show Drainage Plan –
- A. Calculate pre-development runoff using grass cover and 25 year 24 hour storm event .
- B. Calculate post-development runoff using 25 year 24 hour storm event.
- C. Runoff in CFS post-development shall not exceed runoff in CFS pre-development [use piping and/or detention basin to control CFS]
- D. Check drainage design using 100 year 24 hour storm event.
- E. Drainage plan must be prepared and signed by professional engineer.
Include Separate Erosion Control Plan Sheet in compliance with BMP.
Show parking layout and traffic flow as outlined in zoning ordinance.

Show landscaping as outlined in zoning ordinance.
Show all on-site utility connections.
Show all adjacent utilities.
City utility managers must approve utility connections prior to approval.
Drainage maps
Show building footprint.
Show property and easement lines.
One PDF map of sufficient size (no less than 18×24) and PDFs of all material for engineer review.
If site is one acre or more, an application from the Division of Water must be obtained prior to issue of a building permit.
As built certification for site development must be submitted to the City Engineer before any building permits are issued.

Land disturbance activities

See our stormwater ordinance for more information.

3.1 PURPOSE The requirements set forth in this Chapter are intended to:

A. Control or eliminate soil erosion and sedimentation from construction site storm water runoff related to land disturbing activities within the city limits of Somerset;
B. Control or eliminate waste from construction site operators that may cause adverse impacts to water quality.

3.2 LAND DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY

A. Any activity disturbing one (1) or more acres of soil is subject to the provisions of this Ordinance and shall not take place without an authorized EPSC Permit.
B. Unless determined to be a problem, the following activities are exempt from obtaining an EPSC Permit and the provisions of this Ordinance:
- (1) Emergencies posing an immediate danger to life or property, substantial flood or fire hazards, or natural resources;
- (2) Underground utility repairs in paved areas, home gardens, minor repairs, maintenance work, installation of fence, sign, telephone, and electric poles and other kinds of posts or poles;
- (3) Agricultural operations required to adopt and implement an individual agriculture water quality plan pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act (KRS 224); and
- (4) Usual and customary site investigations, such as geotechnical explorations, clearing for surveying work, monitoring wells and archaeological explorations, which are undertaken prior to submittal of an application for a preliminary subdivision plat.
- (5) Building improvements on existing residential dwellings (garages, additions, porches, etc.)
C. The Issuing Authority may on a project-by-project basis exempt other minor land disturbance activities not specifically identified in the exemptions above.
D. Land disturbance activities on individual lots or parcels that are part of a larger common plan of development are also subject to the provisions of this Ordinance. In this situation, if the individual lot or parcel owner is different than the Permittee of the larger common plan of development, the individual lot or parcel owner (i.e. builder) is responsible for complying with the provisions of these Regulations and is required to obtain an EPSC Permit. The Permittee of the larger plan of development is also responsible for EPSC measures for land disturbance activity on the individual lot or parcel until 80% build-out of the development is reached.