MOORE HAVEN –  “Stormwater runoff is one of the main pollutants that our waterways experience,” Community Development Director Susan BuChans told the Glades County Commission at their Aug. 11 meeting.

In the State of Florida, Florida Department of Environmental Protection enforces the federal Clean Water Act, she explained.

FDEP regulates discharges from three different sources:

• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s),
• Construction activities, and,
• Industrial activities.

The county’s Stormwater Management Program complies with state and federal guidelines, she said. Stormwater runoff is a concern due to potential flooding and contaminants.

Stormwater flowing off  property  into county ditches can carry sediment, nutrients, trash, contaminants – “whatever was on that ground that the water ran off of can be carried into our waterways,” BuChans added.

“It can damage the aquatic life that is living in our waterways. It can carry metals and organic chemicals into rivers, ponds and lakes. It can change the water’s chemistry.

“Changing the complexion of the water can make it hard for the animals that live in the water to get the oxygen they need.”

Construction sites are of concern, she said, because when a developer goes in and clears a property, just the soil is left. She said fencing can help reduce erosion of the exposed soil.

Runoff from industrial sites can contain chemicals and heavy metals, she continued.

The county’s stormwater management plan includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) and minimum control measures to prevent or reduce stormwater runoff and comply with federal and state requirements.

Minimum control measures include:

• Public education and outreach,
• Public participation and involvement,
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination,
• Construction site stormwater runoff control.
• Post-construction stormwater management, and
• Municipal operation pollution prevention.

She said county officials periodically check construction sites for stormwater runoff.

The illicit discharge detection/elimination program is a required BMP.  An illicit discharge is a discharge into the county’s sewer system, storm drains, pipes or swales, that is not entirely composed of water. It may contain other pollutants and trash, she explained.

Examples of illicit discharge include:

• Sanitary wastewater from improper connections such as a failing septic tank,
• Runoff from irrigation containing fertilizers,
• Laundry wastewater from households or a laundromat, and
• Improper disposal of auto fluids,
• Spills from roadways and accidents,
• Household waste such as cooking grease.

BuChans said the Public Works Department does a good job of cleaning the trash and debris from the swales and ditches to keep those contaminants out of the waterways.

Signs of an illicit discharge include:

• A pipe or ditch has water flowing into the storm sewer system when there has been no recent rainfall,
• Visible sewage waste, foul odors, suds or other evidence of contamination.

She said individuals can help by keeping their own property clean and notifying officials if they see or smell something that may indicate contaminants.