These activities encourage the use of stormwater quality facilities in new development and redevelopment projects:

• Stormwater detention: Through Ordinance 1182, the City requires on-site detention/retention for all new development and redevelopment projects that result in an increased amount of impervious surface. Specifically, this ordinance requires the construction of facilities that reduce a 100-year post-developed peak flow rate from a site to the 2-year pre-developed level. The stormwater quality benefits of the detention/retention facilities include the reduction of peak flows which can erode stream channels and the pollutant removal characteristic of retention ponds.
• Wellhead protection program: Under City Ordinance 1192, portions of Fairfield have been delineated into a set of districts, collectively referred to as the "wellhead protection area." Development within these districts is regulated for the protection of groundwater resources. These regulations include restrictions on new businesses with a high pollution risk potential, registration of existing facilities, and requirements for spill control plans. This ordinance provides stormwater quality benefits because it addresses a number of potential pollution sources (hazardous material spills, industrial operations involving hazardous materials, etc.) and provides authority to assess penalties for non-compliance. The Hamilton to New Baltimore Groundwater Consortium maintains the most recent mapping data related to sensitive areas of the aquifer.
• Maintenance of regional basins: The City conducts regular inspection, vegetation maintenance, and clearing of the outlet trash racks for its two regional detention basins, site ’A’ and site ’C’.
• Inspect/inventory residential basins: The City has created an inventory of and inspects detention/retention basins located in residential subdivisions. The purpose of the inspections is to verify their condition, with particular emphasis given to structural components such as inlet pipes, headwalls, outlet structures, and paved gutter. Where damaged components are found, their repair and replacement are scheduled into the small drainage project program or capital improvement program.
• Curb inlet replacement program: Fairfield is replacing existing curb inlets with new inlets that have grates stamped with a fish logo and the message "Dump No Waste." These stamped inlets are also being used in new development, redevelopment, and public roadway improvement projects, whenever possible. The use of the stamped inlets serves the same purpose as the storm drain marking described above.
• Post-Construction practices: For new development or redevelopment projects that disturb at least 1 acre, the City will verify that those projects comply with the "Post-Construction Storm Water Management" section of the Ohio EPA’s general construction NPDES permit. This requires that BMPs such as vegetated swales, extended detention basins, retention basins, or other water quality treatment measures be included in the construction of those projects.