New Montgomery County Permitting Services Podcast Episode, ‘Water Runoff’ Features Tips and Resources about Drainage Code
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast episode , “Water Runoff,” provides permitting guidance and tips for those planning to change the topography of their property by adding an accessory structure or embarking on a landscaping project.
DPS Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas, who hosts the podcast, is joined by DPS Water Resources Plan Review Manager Mark Etheridge for a conversation about water runoff. DPS and other County departments may be able to help when it comes to designing a project to ensure the flow of water does not become an issue for adjacent properties.
“What we do in DPS water resources, primarily, is look at environmental mitigation,” said DPS Manager Etheridge. “When you do work on a piece of property and you change the way water flows on that property, we want to protect and reduce the amount of degradation of the environment to the receiving stream system. We look at controls to reduce some of that runoff to remove pollutants and to get water back in the ground for groundwater recharge so that the streams maintain their health. Our real purpose is to protect the receiving stream system.”
Some of the issues discussed during the 15-minute podcast include lot-to-lot runoff, conveyance issues and who may be ultimately responsible under State law if the flow of water impedes on another property. In addition to the drainage code, this episode also covers mitigation tactics for water runoff such as a dry well and a raingarden as well as resources to help with the permitting process.
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The “Water Runoff” episode of the Permitting Services Podcast is available now on the DPS website and various podcast platforms including Amazon , Apple and Spotify . It also is posted at permittingservicespodcast.buzzsprout.com/ .
Subscribe to the podcast by tapping the “follow” sign on the podcast provider’s platform. In addition, it can be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel.
Previous DPS podcast episodes have covered accessory dwelling units (ADUs), building safety, deck permits, the Design for Life Property Tax Credit Program, home improvements, use and occupancy certificates, eSolar, fences, fire code compliance, GIS maps, guidance for restaurants, the public right-of-way, septic systems, urban farming, vendor licenses and zoning.
Residents can send questions about a current or previous episode, or ideas for future podcast episodes to [email protected] .
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In 2024, the Permitting Services Podcast was recognized with an achievement award from the National Association of Counties in the category of civic education and public information.
The Office of Broadband Programs in the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions is providing technical support for the Permitting Services podcast.
DPS is located at 2425 Reedie Drive, Seventh Floor, in Wheaton. The customer service lobby is open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. An appointment is not necessary. Customers also may reach out to DPS staff by calling MC 311 or 240-777-0311. For more permitting information, visit the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps .
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Release ID: 25-043
Media Contact: Sonya Burke 240-855-9813
Categories: Podcast
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46482