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FOCUS ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION & ELIMINATION (IDDE) PROGRAM CITY OF REDMOND- ENVIRONMENTAL AND UTILITY SERVICES DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS IDDE Program Requirements The NPDES permit requires Redmond to incorporate these elements into the IDDE pro- gram: • Develop a storm system map showing outfalls • Enact laws prohibiting illicit dis- charges to storm system • Develop a plan to detect and address non-stormwater dis- charges • Educate City employees, businesses, and the public about the problems associated with illicit discharges and their effect on local waterways What are we talking about? Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination (IDDE) is a program dedicated to protecting lakes, rivers, and streams from pollution. Protecting these sensitive waterways can be difficult in an urbanized environment like Redmond. In the past, rainfall would soak into the ground. Now, with so many roofs, roads, and parking lots, rainfall runoff collects as stormwater, and then discharges into storm drains and waterways. Stormwater can pick up pollution from leaks, spills, and other activities as it flows to storm drains. The goal of the IDDE program is to prevent polluted stormwater from entering waterways. How did this program start? In the 1970’s Congress passed a law called the Clean Water Act. The goal of this law was to restore and maintain the health of our nation's waterways. The law initiated a nationwide program called NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) that required local governments to do certain things to prevent pollutants from entering waterways. One of these requirements was to establish an IDDE program to prevent stormwater pollution. What does “Illicit Discharge” mean? Storm drains were never designed to clean stormwater or remove pollutants. In simple terms this means only rain should go down a storm drain. An illicit discharge means a discharge to storm drains that is not 100% stormwater or that is not specifically authorized. Some authorized exceptions include: • Emergency fire-fighting activities • Groundwater seepage • Uncontaminated flood or crawlspace water • Landscape irrigation • NPDES Industrial permitted discharges ---PAGE BREAK--- FOCUS ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION & ELIMINATION (IDDE) PROGRAM What are some examples of Illicit Discharges? Illicit Discharges include intentional, unintentional, or accidental discharges to the storm drains. Some examples of illicit and illegal discharges are: • Mop buckets dumped onto a parking lot or into a storm drain • A vehicle leaking an excessive amount of fluid • Turbid or muddy water coming from construction activity • Washing paint brushes where the waste will enter a storm drain • An auto detailer or similar commercial business allowing vehicle wash water to enter a storm drain • A garbage dumpster or compactor leaking onto the ground or into a storm drain Muddy or turbid construction water into the Sammamish River: Service station toilet connected to a storm water catchbasin by accident The scope of the IDDE program also includes identifying and removing illicit pipe connections to the storm system. These pipes can be accidently or intentionally connected to a storm drain system. They are usually found to be draining waste or process water pollution from a home or building. How can I get more information? For more information on the NPDES program: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/ stormwater For More Information on Redmond’s IDDE Program Contact: Scott McQuary Public Works, Environmental & Utilities Services Division MS: 2NPW [PHONE REDACTED] To Report a Spill or Non- Stormwater Pollution Discharge Call Redmond’s Environmental Hotline at [PHONE REDACTED]