A MESSAGE TO BUSINESS OW N E R S 2017 Stormwater System Illegal Discharge Guidance Yakima County Public Services Water Resources 128 N. 2nd St. Fourth Floor Courthouse Yakima, WA 98901 PLACE STAMP HERE ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Questions? If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding stormwater discharges, you can contact the Yakima County Water Resources division for answers by dialing (509) 574 -2300. Reporting Illicit Discharges! To report a suspected illicit discharge in the Cities of Selah, Sunnyside, Union Gap, or the County, call (509) 574 -2300; or email [email protected] Finding and Fixing Problems Reducing stormwater pollution is a high priority for the state. Many of our stormwater problems come from everyday actions such as over-fertilizing lawns, or letting soapy water from car washing businesses run into the storm drains. Another problem occurs when pipes that carry sewage or other wastewater are not hooked up properly to sanitary sewer lines. Instead, they may be incorrectly connected to stormwater systems. When this happens, the stormwater system carries untreated wastewater into a stream, river, or lake. Business Owner Message. Discharge of Stormwater System This brochure was created to remind business owners that it is illegal to discharge business waste or other substances besides stormwater into a stormwater conveyance system. Please review and share with your employees this brochure, to ensure that your employees are not committing an illegal act in a manner that could cause your business to be held liable. Your help is important because stormwater is usually untreated and flows to nearby creeks, streams, rivers or groundwater. That water, and the pollutants carried with it, is then used for irrigation, drinking, swimming, and supports fishing and other recreation. We all live downstream. What Happens If We Don’t? Violations Our jurisdiction is permitted by Ecology under the NPDES program and is required by the Ecology permit to have and enforce ordinances that prohibit the discharge of any pollutants into storm drains or ditches. Please note: Violations of these ordinances could result in local fines, per day, and per event. A business may also be charged for expenses created from the illegal illicit discharge. What Is An Illicit Discharge? Illicit discharges are the introduction of non-stormwater runoff, sewage, or hazardous materials into a stormwater system. Studies have shown that pollutant discharge from stormwater systems in dry weather due to illicit discharges can exceed the total pollutant flow from storm event flows. Stormwater systems typically flow untreated to water bodies thus the Washington State Department of Ecology places a significant emphasis on illicit discharge detection to protect water quality. Illicit Discharge Requirements & Conditions Illicit discharges are: • Hazardous waste • Liquid or solid waste • Operational wash water • Septic or sewer connections Under certain conditions, the following are not illicit discharges: • Dust control water • Lawn water • Discharges covered under another permit Illicit discharges are not: • Footing drains • Foundation drains • Irrigation water from agricultural sources County Code, 12.10—Stormwater Authority prohibiting illicit discharges has been adopted by the regional co-permittees in accordance with permit requirements. The following table links the ordinance to the specific jurisdiction. Contact Us Yakima County Public Services ATTN: Water Resources 128 N. 2nd St. Fourth Floor Courthouse Yakima, WA 98901 Phone: (509) 574-2300 Fax: (509) 574-2301 Web: http://www.yakimacounty.us/