In the Illicit Discharges section of the permit, the County is required to identify and eliminate illicit discharges into our storm drainage systems, list what non-storm water discharges are allowed into those drainage systems, and create a map of the drainage system, with at least the locations where our drainage system empties into a waterbody and the drainage area for that point identified.
Definition of Illicit Discharge
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) defines an illicit discharge as: any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not entirely composed of storm water, except discharges pursuant to this general permit (TXR04000) or a separate authorization and discharges resulting from emergency fire fighting activities.
What this means is that illicit discharge is anything that enters our storm drainage system that is not completely storm water. The permit does allow the County to create a list of non-storm water discharges that will not be considered illicit because the discharges pose little to no risk to water pollution. View a list of allowable discharges.
Illegal Dumping & Connections
Illegal dumping and illegal connections are the primary targets for this requirement. A septic system draining into a ditch along a County maintained road would be an example of an illegal connection. People disposing of their garbage, old appliances and other materials improperly are affecting the health and beauty of our natural environment.
Storm Sewer System Map
The County will be working hard to develop a map of our storm sewer system in Urbanized Areas. View map of Urbanized Areas (PDF). It will consist of drainage areas, storm sewer systems in some of the subdivisions, and outfalls. An outfall is the location where a storm sewer conveyance - ditch, storm sewer, or road - empties into a waterway. This map will assist the County in developing protocols to detect and eliminate illicit discharges.
