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FOCUS ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION & ELIMINATION (IDDE) PROGRAM What are we talking about? The Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Program is a program devoted to protecting our waterways (lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater, etc). Human activities associated with developing and modifying land from its original natural state have had, and are having a negative impact on these sensitive natural resources. When an area is developed the rainfall that normally would soak into the ground now collects on “impervious” surfaces such as roads, roofs, and parking lots. This rainfall runoff can sheet flow or is carried by a stormwater conveyance system to our waterways. This stormwater runoff carries pollutants that have been introduced into the storm system or onto the impervious surface. How did this program evolve? In the 1970’s Congress passed into law the Clean Water Act with the goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our nation's waters. This act facilitated the reduction of pollution from factories and direct raw sewage discharges, but did little to address the many small and varied ways in which other pollutants are carried to our waterways by stormwater runoff. Under the Clean Water Act, Congress authorized a program called NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System). There is a permitting component to this law that allows the Federal Government to require local governments (like Redmond) to implement controls meant to prevent pollutants, to the maximum extent practicable, from entering waterways. One of these controls most municipalities are now required to implement is an IDDE program. What does “Illicit Discharge” mean anyway? The official definition of an illicit discharge is “…any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater.” This can literally be interpreted as nothing but rain down the storm drain (MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). Other discharges besides rain are considered “illicit” because storm systems were never designed to treat or handle non- stormwater discharges or substances. However, there are exceptions to this strict interpretation that include: • Emergency fire fighting activities • Groundwater seepage • De-chlorinated water line flushing • Landscape irrigation • NPDES Industrial permitted discharges 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, busi- nesses, and the general public about the problems associated with illicit discharges and their effect on local waterways CITY OF REDMOND- NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 FOCUS ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION & ELIMINATION (IDDE) PROGRAM What are some examples of Illicit Discharges? Illicit Discharges include both intentional and unintentional or accidental discharges to the storm system or MS4. Some examples of illicit and illegal discharges are: • Mop buckets dumped onto a parking lot or into a drain • A vehicle leaking an excessive amount of fluid • Washing paint brushes where the waste will enter a storm drain • An auto detailer or similar commercial outfit washing vehicles where the effluent will enter a storm drain • A garbage dumpster or compactor that is leaking excessively onto the pavement or into a storm drain Stormwater Outfall into the Sammamish River The scope of the IDDE program also includes detecting and eliminating “direct” illicit connections to the storm system. These connections are defined as wastewater piping that is either accidently or intentionally tied into the storm system. 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, Natural Resources Division MS: 2NPW [PHONE REDACTED], press 1 for cell phone To Report a Spill or Non- Stormwater Discharge Call Redmond’s Environmental Hotline at [PHONE REDACTED] Service station toilet connected to a storm water catchbasin by accident