After the Storm: Richmond Snow Disposal and Stormwater Management Guide
Published: December 26, 2025 • 8 min read
A Henrico shopping center dumped 200 truckloads of plowed snow into a retention pond last winter. When it melted, chloride levels spiked to 15 times the EPA threshold. Virginia DEQ fined them $12,000.
Where you put snow matters. It's not just piles of frozen water. It's contaminated with salt, oil, antifreeze, and whatever else was on pavement before it snowed.
Why Snow Disposal Is a Stormwater Issue
Snow melts. When it does, everything mixed into that snow washes into storm drains.
Richmond's storm drains don't go to treatment plants. They dump directly into creeks, which feed the James River, which flows to the Chesapeake Bay.
Snow from commercial parking lots typically contains:
- Road salt (sodium chloride and calcium chloride)
- Motor oil and transmission fluid
- Antifreeze leaked from vehicles
- Tire particles and brake dust
- Trash and debris
- Sand and gravel
None of that belongs in waterways. But if you pile contaminated snow next to a storm drain, that's exactly where it goes.
Richmond and Henrico MS4 Regulations
Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield operate under MS4 permits (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulates what goes into those systems.
If you own or manage commercial property in these jurisdictions, you're subject to stormwater pollution prevention requirements. That includes snow disposal.
Key MS4 Requirement:
"Prevent the discharge of pollutants from land disturbing activities, including salt, sediment, and other contaminants, into the municipal separate storm sewer system."
Snow removal is a "land disturbing activity." Salt is a pollutant. Dumping salty snow into storm drains violates your MS4 permit.
Where You Can Legally Dump Snow
Small amounts of snow can stay on-site. Large commercial properties might need off-site disposal.
On-Site Snow Piling (Residential and Small Commercial)
Allowed: Pile snow on grass, landscaped areas, or permeable surfaces at least 10 feet from storm drains, catch basins, and waterways.
Why it works: Soil filters some contaminants as snow melts. Keeping piles away from drains gives meltwater time to percolate instead of running directly into storm sewers.
Don't pile snow on slopes that drain directly to storm inlets. Even a 10-foot buffer won't help if meltwater runs downhill into a drain.
Off-Site Snow Disposal (Large Commercial)
When parking lots run out of space, contractors haul snow off-site. Virginia DEQ regulates where it can go.
Approved disposal sites:
- Permitted construction and demolition (C&D) landfills
- Designated snow disposal areas operated by municipalities
- Private properties with DEQ-approved stormwater management plans
Richmond and Henrico don't operate public snow disposal sites. Most contractors haul to private sites in Hanover or Chesterfield.
Illegal Snow Disposal
Never dump snow:
- Directly into storm drains, creeks, or rivers
- Into stormwater retention ponds (they're designed for clean runoff, not contaminated snow)
- On neighboring properties without permission
- On public streets (creates traffic hazards and violates city ordinances)
- Into sanitary sewers (different system; not designed for high-volume meltwater)
Best Practices for On-Site Snow Piling
If you're keeping snow on your property, pile it smart.
1. Designate Snow Storage Areas Before Winter
Pick spots that won't create problems when snow melts. Grassy areas, landscape islands, and corners of parking lots work well. Mark them on a site map and train plow operators.
2. Keep Piles Away from Critical Areas
Minimum setbacks:
- 10 feet from storm drains and catch basins
- 50 feet from streams, ponds, or wetlands
- 10 feet from building foundations (prevents basement flooding)
- 5 feet from fire hydrants and utility access points
3. Spread Piles Out
Don't create 15-foot mountains. Spread snow in 3 to 4-foot piles over larger areas. Shallower piles melt slower, reducing peak meltwater runoff that overwhelms storm drains.
4. Monitor Melt Patterns
When temps rise, check where meltwater flows. If it's running toward storm drains despite your buffer, dig a diversion channel or add sand bags to redirect flow onto grass.
How Much Snow Can You Pile On-Site?
Depends on your property size and layout.
Rule of thumb: You need 1 square foot of storage space for every 10 square feet of pavement you're clearing.
A 5-acre parking lot has about 217,800 square feet of pavement. You need roughly 21,780 square feet of snow storage (about half an acre).
If 6 inches of snow falls, it piles to about 3 feet high when plowed (snow compacts and stacks). Half an acre can hold that much snow comfortably.
But if Richmond gets 18 inches in one storm (rare but happens), you're looking at 9-foot piles. That's when properties run out of space and need hauling.
Off-Site Hauling: What It Costs
Snow hauling is expensive. Contractors charge by the truck load or by the hour.
| Pricing Model | Typical Rate | When It's Used |
|---|---|---|
| Per truck load | $200-350 per load | Small jobs (5-15 loads) |
| Hourly (loader + trucks) | $400-600 per hour | Large jobs (continuous hauling) |
| Per cubic yard | $15-25 per cubic yard | Quoted after measuring piles |
A dump truck holds 10 to 14 cubic yards. If you have 500 cubic yards of snow to haul (common for a large retail center after 12+ inches), you're looking at 40 to 50 truck loads.
At $250 per load, that's $10,000 to $12,500.
This is why property managers try to avoid hauling if possible.
Melting Snow with Equipment
Some contractors use snow melters: machines that spray hot water on snow, melting it on-site. The meltwater goes into storm drains or sanitary sewers (if permitted).
Pros:
- No hauling costs
- Frees up parking space immediately
- Works faster than waiting for natural melt
Cons:
- Equipment rental costs $1,500 to $3,000 per day
- Uses massive amounts of water (and energy to heat it)
- Still discharges contaminated meltwater (salt, oil, etc.)
- Requires discharge permits in some jurisdictions
Henrico County requires a permit to discharge snow melt into storm sewers if you're using mechanical melting equipment. Check with local stormwater authorities before renting a melter.
Spring Cleanup: Dealing with Salt Residue
When snow melts, salt stays behind. White crusty residue on pavement, dead grass along parking lot edges, salt-damaged shrubs.
Street Sweeping
Sweep parking lots and roadways in March to remove salt, sand, and debris before spring rains wash it into storm drains. Commercial sweeping costs $0.05 to $0.15 per square foot.
Soil Flushing
Water grass and landscape beds heavily in early spring to leach accumulated salt out of the root zone. Gypsum application (calcium sulfate) helps counteract sodium damage.
Catch Basin Cleaning
Sand and sediment accumulate in storm drain inlets. Clean them out before summer storms or they'll clog and cause flooding. Vactor truck service costs $150 to $300 per catch basin.
Protecting the James River Watershed
Richmond sits in the James River watershed. Everything that enters our storm drains eventually reaches the river.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation monitors chloride levels in local waterways. Some Richmond-area streams now exceed EPA chronic exposure thresholds for aquatic life. Road salt is the primary source.
You can't eliminate salt use entirely. But you can minimize environmental impact:
- Use the minimum effective salt application rates (GPS-guided spreaders help)
- Switch to less-harmful de-icers where practical (CMA, beet juice brine)
- Pile snow on permeable surfaces, not next to storm drains
- Sweep up residual salt before spring rains
- Consider pre-treating with liquids instead of reactive granular salt after snow falls
Stormwater Violations and Fines
Virginia DEQ enforces stormwater regulations. Violations can result in:
- Warning letters (first offense for minor violations)
- Consent orders requiring corrective action
- Fines up to $32,500 per day of violation
- Mandatory stormwater pollution prevention plan updates
Common violations related to snow disposal:
- Dumping snow directly into retention ponds or streams
- Piling snow in ways that cause contaminated runoff to bypass stormwater treatment
- Hauling snow to unapproved disposal sites
- Failure to maintain catch basins and storm drains (clogged with sand and salt)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dump snow into my stormwater retention pond?
No. Retention ponds are designed to treat normal stormwater runoff, not handle massive loads of contaminated snow. Dumping snow into ponds can kill aquatic vegetation, damage pond liners, and cause regulatory violations.
Pile snow on land and let it melt naturally. Meltwater can flow into the pond, but don't dump solid snow directly.
What if I have no space to pile snow on-site?
You have three options: Haul snow off-site to an approved disposal location, rent a snow melter and discharge to sewers (with permit), or reduce plowing frequency and accept some snow accumulation.
Can I push snow across the street onto someone else's property?
No. That's trespassing and potentially creates liability if their property is damaged. It also violates local ordinances against obstructing public streets.
Is there a limit to how high I can pile snow?
No height limit in regulations, but practical limits exist. Piles over 8-10 feet become unstable and dangerous. They also take weeks to melt, blocking valuable parking space.
Insurance companies get nervous about tall snow piles. If one collapses and injures someone, you're liable.
Environmentally Responsible Snow Management
Evergreen Plowing follows MS4-compliant snow disposal practices for all Richmond commercial properties. We designate storage areas, minimize salt use, and coordinate off-site hauling when needed.