Illicit Discharge

DEFINITION

AN ILLICIT DISCHARGE IS ANY DISCHARGE TO ROADWAY DRAINAGE DITCHES, MUNICIPAL STREETS, CATCH BASINS, CURBS, GUTTERS, MAN-MADE CHANNELS, OR STORM DRAINS THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY COMPOSED OF STORMWATER WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS:

• WATER LINE FLUSHING
• LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION WATER
• DIVERTED STREAM FLOWS
• UNCONTAMINATED GROUND WATER INFILTRATION TO STORM DRAINS
• UNCONTAMINATED PUMPED GROUND WATER
• DISCHARGE FROM POTABLE WATER SOURCES
• FOUNDATION AND/OR FOOTING DRAIN WATER (NOT INCLUDING ACTIVE GROUNDWATER DEWATERING SYSTEMS)
• AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION
• IRRIGATION WATER
• RISING GROUNDWATER
• SPRINGS
• WATER FROM CRAWL SPACE PUMPS
• FOOTING DRAINS
• LAWN WATERING RUNOFF
• INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL CAR WASHING
• DISCHARGE OR FLOWS FROM FIRE FIGHTING ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING                             FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING)
• FLOWS FROM RIPARIAN HABITATS AND WETLANDS
• DECHLORINATED SWIMMING POOL DISCHARGES; AND
• DISCHARGES AUTHORIZED BY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH SEPARATE NPDES PERMIT.

SOURCES OF ILLICIT DISCHARGES

 TWO OF THE MOST COMMON SOURCES OF ILLICIT DISCHARGES IN LEE COUNTY ARE GREY WATER DISCHARGE LINES (WASHING MACHINE/ DISHWASHER LINES ) NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED TO SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS.  OTHER COMMON SOURCES ARE MOTOR OIL, ANTIFREEZE, GASOLINE AND FUEL SPILLS.

FAILED SEPTIC SYSTEM

GREY WATER DISCHARGE

  PROBLEMS WITH ILLICIT DISCHARCHES

 STUDIES INDICATE THAT DRY WEATHER (ILLICIT) DISCHARGES CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANT POLLUTANTS TO RECEIVING WATERS.  LEE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS SEVERAL IMPAIRED STREAMS; MILL CREEK, SOUGAHACTCHEE CREEK, PARKERSON MILL, AND HALAWAKEE CREEK.  THE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION OF ILLICIT DISCHARGES IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR WATERWAYS.

MORE INFORMATION

 MORE INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT OF ILLICIT DISCHARGES CAN BE FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE BY GOING TO THE STORMWATER TAB THEN TO THE STORMWATER BROCHURES TAB AND THEN TO THE BROCHURE TITLED ILLICIT DISCHARGE.

REPORTING

 IF YOU SUSPECT AN ILLICIT DISCHARGE IN LEE COUNTY PLEASE REPORT TO THE LEE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 334-737-7011 AND ASK FOR THE STORMWATER COORDINATOR.  IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION;

• YOUR NAME
• CONTACT NUMBER
• LOCATION OF SUSPECTED ILLICIT DISCHARGE
• BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM

ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL

 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROGRAM