Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that runs from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through lawns. Stormwater can carry pollution from these surfaces to waterbodies and aquifers. The town has catch basins, swales, and other infrastructure to help control and divert stormwater. It might seem that this infrastructure would be a good way to dispose of other liquids, but since the piping leads to waterbodies and aquifers, adding contaminants to the stormwater can pollute lakes, streams, and groundwater that is the source of our drinking water. The Town must comply with a permit for stormwater flows. Some discharges are allowed in the stormwater infrastructure, but many are not. Those that are not are called “illicit discharges”.
A suspicious discharge can be indicated when catch basins and pipes have flowing water, but it has not rained recently. These should be checked to see if they are allowed or illicit. Clean water in drains is allowed, including water from springs, groundwater seepage, or leaking water distribution pipes. Other examples of allowed discharges include water from sump pumps of uncontaminated groundwater, landscape irrigation that does not carry fertilizer or pesticides, and air conditioning condensate. Flows that result from emergency firefighting are also permitted.
An illicit discharge is the disposal, dumping, spilling, or other release of any substance other than rain water or allowed water into the stormwater drainage system. Our stormwater drainage system includes streets, ditches, catch basins, yard inlets, street inlets, storm drains and streams. Examples of illicit and illegal discharges include pouring paint into a storm drain, changing oil or antifreeze near a storm drain, dumping grease into a storm drain, or disposing of unwanted chemicals in an area where they can flow to a storm drain. Chlorinated or salt water from swimming pools are also illicit discharges and should not be released into the street or storm system. Another illicit discharge is the release of grey water, for example flows from washing machines. Frequent sources of pollution include effluent flowing from failing septic systems. Some of these discharges may have harmful phosphorus that worsen water quality. All of these illicit discharges can carry pollutants that are harmful to human health and the environment, and can adversely affect your drinking water.
Suspicious discharges can be identified by odors or sight. The smell of sewage, gasoline, or a chemical smell, or water that looks cloudy, brown, with soap suds or with an oily sheen, all can be indications of an illicit discharge that should be investigated. Report these to the highway department at 914 763- 3166 or highway [at] lewisborony.gov () . Provide information on when (date and time) and where (including the address) the illicit discharge was spotted, and what was seen.
To avoid illicit discharges:
- Pick up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash
- Wash your car on the lawn (but not over the septic system) to minimize runoff to the street
- Take used oil to service stations - service stations are required to collect used oil
- Dispose of chemicals and paint at hazardous waste collection events
- Maintain your septic system and pump it at least once every five years
- Dechlorinate or /debrominate pool water and test for neutral pH before draining
Thank you for helping to care for our Town’s drinking water by not producing illicit discharges and reporting any suspicious discharges that you observe.