THE NPDES ILLICIT DISCHARGE ORDINANCE

The NPDES program stipulates that to comply with the Federal requirements an illicit discharge ordinance, shall be approved and executed by the City Commission by the end of the NPDES 5 year cycle. The City of Daytona Beach approved an Illicit Discharge and Connection Ordinance in September 2008 and amended the Land Development Code to include Article 7 Section 7. The Ordinance prohibits non-storm water discharges into the stormwater conveyance systems. It identifies the appropriate enforcement procedures and actions; for detection and addresses non-storm water discharges into the City’s drainage systems.

Illicit discharge is defined as any direct or indirect non-storm water discharge to the stormwater conveyance systems or waters of the United States. Illicit connections are defined as point source discharges to the City’s stormwater conveyance systems or to waters of the United States, which are not composed entirely of stormwater and are not authorized by a permit or exemption.

Illicit discharges enter the system through either direct connections (e.g., wastewater piping either mistakenly or deliberately connected to the storm drains) or indirect connections. This results in an untreated discharge that contributes to high levels of pollutants, including heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, viruses, and bacteria to receiving water bodies. Pollutant levels from these illicit discharges have been shown in EPA studies to be high enough to significantly degrade receiving water quality and threaten aquatic, wildlife, and human health.

If you see illegal dumping or illicit discharges into the City’s stormsewer system, please call Utilities Dispatch at 386-671-8815 or email Water Utilities Communications to report the offence.  If possible tell the Dispatcher what is being dumped, the time of the day, the location of the illicit dumping and a license plate number of the vehicle or trailer involved.

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/npdes/docs/phase2/fact2-5.pdf

There are a few exceptions to the Illicit Discharges into the storm sewer system. They include:

• Waterline flushing and other contributions from potable water sources
• Landscape irrigation and lawn watering
• Irrigation water
• Diverted stream flows
• Rising groundwater
• Direct infiltration of groundwater to the separate storm sewer system
• Uncontaminated, non-particulate pumped groundwater
• Foundation and footing drains
• Water from crawl space pumps
• Uncontaminated, non-particulate air conditioning condensation
• Springs
• Individual Residential car washing
• Non-particulate backwash from residential swimming pools
• Flows from riparian habitat and wetlands
• Flows from firefighting

The City of Daytona Beach Utilities Department makes inspections and maintains all City-owned ditches; canals and storm drain pipes and inlets. You can help the City with its drainage system maintenance and meet the NPDES requirements by following these measures:

1.  Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches, canals, or storm drains. Dumping in our ditches, canals, or storm drains are a violation of City of Daytona Beach Code of Ordinances and the Land Development Code. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and block storm water flow. A plugged ditch or canal cannot carry water, and when it rains, the water needs to go somewhere. Every piece of grass or trash contributes to flooding.
2. If your property is next to a ditch or canal, please do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. The City has a ditch and canal maintenance program that can help remove major blockages such as downed trees. If your property is near curb and ditch bottom inlets keep them clear of grass clippings, leaves, brush and debris. Storing on top or near these inlets, or "blowing" the trimmings into the streets and gutters, contribute to plugging the storm drains.
3. If you see dumping of debris in local ditches and canals, contact the City of Daytona Beach Utilities Dispatch at 386-671-8815. 
   If you experience any localized drainage problems including illegal dumping in the drainage system, call Utilities Dispatch at 386-671-8815 or email wucommunications@codb.us.  Please provide the location, type of material being dumped, and a license plate number if available.  Do not try to approach the offender.
4. If you see any illicit discharge or illicit connections to an inlet, stormsewer, ditch or surface water please contact the City of Daytona Beach Utilities Dispatch at 386-671-8815 immediately or email wucommunications@codb.us.  Please provide the location, type of material being dumped, and a license plate number if available.  Do not try to approach the offender.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the NPDES Program go to:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/allfaqs.cfm?program_id=0