What is an Illicit Discharge?

An illicit discharge is anything other than stormwater. Pollutants that are intentionally dumped into stormwater are considered illicit and the polluter can be sited for a violation of the County Stormwater Ordinance if they are caught discharging in to the County Stormwater System.
Certain things are allowed. They are:
- Water line flushing
- Landscape irrigation
- Diverted stream flows or rising groundwater
- Infiltration of uncontaminated groundwater
- Public safety activities
- Pumping of uncontaminated groundwater from potable water sources, or foundation drains, irrigation waters, springs or water from crawl spaces or footing drains
- Air conditioning condensation
- Lawn watering
- Individual residential car washing
- Flows from riparian habitats or wetlands
- Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges
- Street flushing
- Those permitted by the State DEQ or DCR

Show All Answers

1. What do I do if my ditches are flooding? Who do I call about a drainage problem?
2. My home is not connected to the County’s sanitary sewer system, and I have a septic tank. How often should it be inspected?
3. How do I find out what flood zone my property is in?
4. What can I do to reduce flooding?
5. How does stormwater get treated?
6. What is an Illicit Discharge?
7. How can I help reduce pollution?
8. What is TMDL?
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