Storm Water

stormwaterCitrus County Engineering provides information regarding topography, stormwater drainage, specific watershed flood study data and specific county capital improvement project data.

What is Illicit Discharge?

An Illicit Discharge is any discharge to a storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.

How will you recognize Illicit Discharge when you see it?

Look for:

  • Staining from paints or solvents on outfall pipes, inlets and grates, and around pond banks
  • Turbidity, oil/gas sheen, foam and/or suds
  • Abandoned oil and gas containers, barrels, and paint cans
  • Discoloration of water or vegetation
  • Floatables and debris
  • Pungent odors or other smells
  • Sand or debris from construction sites running to stormwater systems

What is an Illicit Connection?

An Illicit Connection is any improper connection to the County’s stormwater system which allows non-stormwater to enter the storm drain system.

How will you recognize an Illicit Connection when you see one?

Look for: Any type of pipe or hose that is not part of the County’s stormwater system leading to a curb inlet, catch basin, swale, ditch, drainage retention area (DRA), and/or body of water.

What to do if you witness Illicit Discharge or an Illicit Connection:

Contact the county using the information found on the left side of this webpage OR Report a Problem or Complaint.

HOTLINE PHONE: (352) 527-5443

Illicit Discharge Email:
NPDES.ILLICIT@citrusbocc.com

Three Sisters Springs Wetland Treatment Project


What Is Stormwater?

Stormwater is pure rainwater, plus anything the rain carries along with it. In urban areas, rain that falls on the roof of your house, or collects on paved areas like driveways, and roads is carried away through a system of pipes or ditches. The stormwater flows directly from streets and gutters into our rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Straight from your street to waterways inhabited by fish, frogs and other aquatic animals and plants.

Polluted Stormwater

When polluted stormwater reaches our waterways, it has many long-lasting, negative effects on aquatic plant and animal life. This pollution also impacts other wildlife that use the water or eat the contaminated seafood. This includes humans.

Some of the Potential Effects of Polluted Stormwater are:

  • Sediment and other debris clog drains and waterways causing flooding
  • Stormwater pollution can harm aquatic life and make fish inedible
  • Polluted stormwater can pose a health risk to people

Repercussion:

If we don't stop the pollution, one of our most valuable resources - our waters - will be lost forever. Please remember, ditches and storm drains are not connected to the sewer system. They flow directly into streams, lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays and the Gulf of Mexico. This means that storm water is not cleaned or decontaminated before it flows into our waterways.

Whatever you put in ditches, street drains, and on your lawn, goes immediately into our recreational waters whenever there is a significant rain.

Types of Storm water Pollution:

  • Litter - such as cigarette butts, cans, paper or plastic bags
  • Chemical pollution - such as detergents, oil or fertilizers
  • Organic pollution - such as leaves, lawn and garden clippings, animal droppings, and dirt

This ends up discharging into waterways as sediment, sludge and solids. These can sometimes be removed by pollution traps and ponds, but the most effective way to reduce this problem is to prevent pollution entering the stormwater system. The traps don't catch all the silt or litter, and they don't stop chemical pollutants at all.

Related:


Contact

Mark Schroder
Engineer I
mark.schroder@citrusbocc.com

Location:

Citrus County Engineering
3600 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 241
Lecanto, Fl. 34461

Phone: (352)-527-5443
FAX: (352)-527-5476

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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