Stormwater FAQs

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is generated from rain events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. The runoff (water) can pick up pollutants like trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment that can harm our rivers, streams, and coastal waters.

 

Why is Managing Stormwater Important?

Managing stormwater is essential for preventing flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

 

How Does Stormwater Get Polluted?

As stormwater flows over our yards, streets, parking lots, buildings, and other absorbent and impermeable surfaces, it can collect pollutants such as oil, chemicals, grass clippings, litter, pet waste, and anything else that may accumulate on these surfaces. The storm sewer system then transports these pollutants to the Manatee River and eventually Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Anything that goes into a storm sewer system, or the road, eventually ends up in our surface waters. Polluted stormwater could potentially affect drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.

 

What is a Storm Drain?

Storm drains are the openings you see along curbs and in streets and parking lots that initiate the framework of our storm sewer system. Rainwater enters these storm drains and travels through the storm sewer system to the Manatee River, and ultimately to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Water that enters the storm sewer system does not go to a treatment facility.

 

What's The Difference Between a Sanitary Sewer and a Storm Drain? 

The water that drains down a sink or toilet in a home or business flows to the sanitary sewer and is treated at a wastewater treatment plant. 

 
Storm drains are NOT connected to the sanitary sewers or treatment plants. The storm drain system is designed to carry rainwater away from our homes to prevent flooding. Storm drains flow directly to our ponds, rivers, and streams, eventually discharging to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

 

What is an Illicit Discharge?

Anything going into the storm sewer (MS4) that is NOT stormwater. Some exceptions include:

• Flows from firefighting activities
• Water line and fire hydrant flushing
• Landscape irrigation
• Diverted stream flows
• Rising groundwaters
• Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration
• Uncontaminated pumped groundwater
• Discharges from uncontaminated potable water sources
• Foundation drains
• Air conditioning condensation (commercial/residential)
• Springs
• Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges

 

*Any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater except discharges pursuant to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (other than the NPDES permit for discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer) and discharges resulting from firefighting activities.