Stormwater Guide

Some cities and counties have stormwater ordinance, others simply have stormwater guide. Stormwater ordinance establishes requirements relating to stormwater pollution prevention. Stormwater guide or ordinance is necessary to prevent hazardous and harmful pollutants from entering the stormwater systems. These pollutants can damage drinking water, streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands. Stormwater management and stormwater training of personnel are key to stormwater pollution prevention.

List of common substances - stormwater pollution prevention

Substances that are usually not violations of stormwater ordinance and not conflicting with stormwater guide are:

• discharges from potable water sources
• individual residential car washing
• de-chlorinated swimming pool discharges excluding filter backwash - you must wait for your swimming pool water to free of chemicals (=0.00 ppm) before draining your pool
• foundation drain
• air conditioning condensate

Substances that are prohibited under most stormwater ordinance and stormwater guide are:

• any petroleum product or oil
• any hazardous substance or waste
• any garbage, rubbish, or other waste
• any new or used paints, including latex-based paints, oil based paints, stains, varnish, and primers as well as cleaning solvents and other associated products
• any yard wastes, which have been moved or gathered by a person
• any wastewater from commercial floor, rug or carpet cleaning
• any stormwater runoff, wash down stormwater or waste from any animal pen, kennel, fowl or livestock containment area or any pet wastes
• any filter backwash from a swimming pool or fountain with exceptions depending on the city or county
• any waste from a car wash or commercial vehicle repair facility