Illicit Discharges into storm drains and conveyances

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 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.

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 7.2(N). The ordinance prohibits nonstormwater discharges into the stormwater conveyance systems. It identifies the appropriate enforcement procedures and actions for detection and addresses nonstormwater discharges into the city's drainage systems.

What Is Illicit Discharge?

Illicit discharge is defined as any direct or indirect nonstormwater 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 (for example - 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.

Report Illegal Dumping

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.

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the illicit discharges into the storm sewer system. They include:

• Direct infiltration of ground water to the separate storm sewer system
• Diverted stream flows
• Flows from firefighting
• Flows from riparian habitat and wetlands
• Foundation and footing drains not including active groundwater dewatering systems. 
• Individual, residential car washing
• Irrigation water
• Landscape irrigation and lawn watering
• Swimming pools if dechlorinated to less than or equal to 0.01 mg/L residual chlorine. 
• Rising groundwater
• Springs
• Uncontaminated, nonparticulate pumped ground water
• Water from crawl space pumps
• Waterline flushing and other contributions from potable water sources
• Construction Dust Control and Street Cleaning
• Discharges specified in writing by the City as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
• Dye testing if verbal notification has been given to the City prior to the time of the test
• Non-stormwater discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the MS4.

How You Can Help the City

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:

• Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches, canals or storm drains. Dumping in ditches, canals or storm drains is a violation of City of Daytona Beach Code of Ordinances and the Land Development Code. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and block stormwater 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.
• 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 contributes to plugging the storm drains.
• If you see dumping of debris in local ditches and canals, contact utilities dispatch at (386) 671-8815.
• If you experience any localized drainage problems, including illegal dumping in the drainage system, contact utilities dispatch at (386) 671-8815 or by email. Please provide the location, type of material being dumped and a license plate number if available. Do not try to approach the offender.
• If you see any illicit discharge or illicit connections to an inlet, stormsewer, ditch or surface water, please contact utilities dispatch at (386) 671-8815 or by email. Please provide the location, type of material being dumped, and a license plate number if available. Do not try to approach the offender.