As part of the City’s Illicit Discharge Elimination Program, City employees are trained and educated to identify illicit connections or discharges to the stormwater drainage system. The most common warning signs of illicit discharges are dry weather flow, suds, sewage, oil and gas. The City also has field crews investigating point source discharges (PSDs) as part of their dry weather screening component of the Illicit Discharge Elimination Program. A PSD is an outfall from a drainage system that is characterized as a single identifiable source. A NPSD is a source of pollution that washes from roofs, streets, yards, driveway, sidewalks, and other land areas into waterbodies. Any person found to be responsible for an illicit discharge or who does not report an illicit discharge found on their property is in violation of City Codes/Ordinances.
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Illicit-Wrong, illegal, needs correction
Discharge-To unload or empty
Elimination-Let's get rid of it
Program-Solutions |
Definitions
- Illicit Discharge is any discharge (or seepage) to the separate storm water drainage system that is not composed entirely of storm water or uncontaminated groundwater.
- Illicit Connection is a physical connection to a separate storm water drainage system that primarily conveys illicit discharges into the system and/or is not authorized or permitted by the local authority (where a local authority requires such).
Illicit Discharge Warning Signs
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Dry Weather Flow is noted when it has not rained for at least 72 hours and the storm drain has flowor the drain shows signs of intermittent flow (staining, odor). |
Sanitary Sewage may be present if there is black staining inside the drainage pipe; visible evidence of sanitary waste, such as toilet paper;or opaque or gray water. Sewage may originate from septic tank overflow pipes or improperly dumped travel trailer waste. |
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Suds may be harmfulto fish because suds deplete oxygen levels in the water. Suds often enter lakes and streams as a result of improperly connected car washes or washing machines. |
Oil/Gas is recognized as a sheen on the water. Natural sheens may be differentiated from an oil/gas sheen by swirling the sheen around in the water. If it re-attaches, the sheen is oil/gas. Natural sheens will remain separated. Oil/Gas enters water bodies via storm water runoff (spills while topping off at gas stations, oil leaks on pavement, etc.) and illegal dumping.
Improper discarding of GRASS clippings in areas such as gutters, culverts, drains, ditches and streams will result in many problems within that particular setting. Grass clippings contain a large amount of nutrients including phosphorous, which can cause an increase in algae growth within the stream and receiving body of water. Nutrient input can reduce dissolved oxygen levels within a water system, which is necessary for biodiversity. Grass disposal on the banks of ditches or streams can kill vegetation, which degrades bank stability and eventually forms blockages. Grass that is deposited on the ditch bottom can also create a blockage in the stream.
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Illicit DischargeReporting
To protect the quality of our streams and public health, please report sources of pollution you witness along the roadside or at rest areas and roadside parks, including:
- Dumping waste/oil or other vehicle fluids
- Suspicious pipes outletting to ditches
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