[R.O. 2009 §23.5-1; Ord. No. 2242 §1.1, 11-13-1991]
A. 
The purpose of this Article is to reduce or eliminate the hazards to public health and safety caused by excessive storm water runoff, reduce economic losses to individuals and the community at large, enhance broader social and economic objectives and protect, conserve and promote the orderly development of land and water resources. The provisions of this Article further supplement ordinances regulating:
1. 
The subdivision, layout and improvement of lands located within the corporate limits of the City of Festus, Missouri.
2. 
The excavating, filling and grading of lots and other parcels or areas.
3. 
The construction of buildings and the drainage of the sites on which those structures are located, to include parking and other paved areas.
4. 
The design, construction and maintenance of storm water drainage facilities and systems.
[R.O. 2009 §23.5-2; Ord. No. 2242 §1.2, 11-13-1991]
The provisions of this Article shall be deemed as additional requirements to standards required by other ordinances of the City. In case of conflicting requirements, the most restrictive shall apply.
[R.O. 2009 §23.5-3; Ord. No. 2242 §1.3, 11-13-1991]
The provisions and Sections of this Article shall be deemed separable and the invalidity of any portion of this Article shall not affect the validity of the remainder.
[R.O. 2009 §23.5-4; Ord. No. 2242 §1.4, 11-13-1991]
Before starting any activities regulated by this Chapter, an applicant shall comply with the requirements set forth in other applicable ordinances with respect to the submission and approval of preliminary and final subdivision plats, improvements plans, building and zoning permits, inspections, appeals and similar matters, along with those set forth in this Article and as may be required by State Statutes and the regulations of any department of the State of Missouri.
[R.O. 2009 §23.5-5; Ord. No. 2242 §1.5, 11-13-1991]
For the purposes of this Article, the following definitions are adopted.
15-YEAR, 20-MINUTE FREQUENCY RAINFALL
A precipitation event of twenty (20) minutes duration having six and sixty-seven hundredths percent (6.67%) chance of occurring in any one (1) year.
25-YEAR, 24-HOUR FREQUENCY RAINFALL
A precipitation event of twenty-four (24) hours duration having a four percent (4%) chance of occurring in any one (1) year.
CATCHMENT
The subwatershed as identified in the Festus Areawide Storm Water Study.
DETENTION FACILITY
Any structure which is designed to collect and store surface water for subsequent gradual discharge.
EXCESS STORM WATER RUNOFF
That portion of storm water which exceeds the
(1) 
safe storm drainage capacity of the downstream storm sewers within the catchment, or
(2) 
the pre-development runoff in the particular tract.
PROTECTED CHANNEL
A channel which receives storm water discharge and which is paved, rip-rapped or otherwise improved by addition of manmade materials so as to reduce the potential for erosion.
SAFE STORM DRAINAGE CAPACITY
The quantity of storm water runoff that can be transported by a channel or conduit without having the water surface rise above the top of the channel or conduit.
STORM WATER CHANNEL
A natural or manmade open watercourse with definite bed and banks which periodically or continuously contains moving water or which forms a connecting link between two (2) bodies of water.
STORM WATER RUNOFF
Water that results from precipitation which is not absorbed by the soil or vegetation or evaporated and which flows over the ground surface or is collected in channels or conduits.
STORM WATER RUNOFF RELEASE RATE
The rate at which storm water runoff is released from dominant to subservient land.