| What
are illicit discharges?
Per the State of Michigan NPDES Permit MIG
619000 an illicit discharge means any discharge
(or seepage) to the separate storm water drainage
system that is not composed entirely of storm
water or uncontaminated groundwater. Examples
of illicit discharges include dumping of motor
vehicle fluids, household hazardous wastes,
grass clippings, leaf litter, or animal wastes,
or unauthorized discharges of untreated wastewater,
industrial waste, restaurant wastes, or any
other non-storm water waste into a separate
storm water drainage system.
To prevent pollution of storm water:
 |
Keep pet
waste cleaned up from: lawns, sidewalks,
and streets and away from drainage ditches
and storm drains. |
|
Keep fertilizers,
pesticides, and herbicides off paved
surfaces and out of drainage paths.
Use minimal amounts and follow all label
directions. |
|
Do not wash or sweep
debris, or spilled materials, into storm
drains. |
|
Conserve the amount
of water you use! Extra water overwhelms
wastewater treatment plants and water
retention basins, especially during
heavy rains, and contributes to combined
wastewater overflows. |
|
Do not dispose of
grass clippings, leaves, brush or other
lawn and garden waste in a drain, ditch,
or street with a storm sewer. |
|
Make certain that
all of the wastewater and wastewater
from your home or business is directed
to a sanitary sewer or a properly functioning
and approved on-site septic system. |
|
Properly operate and
maintain your on-site septic system.
Discharges from malfunctioning systems
can impair water quality (including
the water quality at public bathing
beaches). Septic system maintenance
information is available from the Saginaw
County Public Health Department. |
|
Dispose of household
chemicals, automotive fluid waste, and
other household hazardous waste materials
properly, not in storm drains. |
|
Discharge boat or
recreational vehicle waste only at approved
disposal locations. |
|
When washing cars,
direct wash water away from streets
and storm drains. Consider washing your
car on the lawn so that wash water can
be absorbed and filtered. |
|
