Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)

Did you know that Fuquay-Varina is an MS4?

That means the town is a public entity that discharges, collects, or conveys stormwater via drains, pipes, and ditches.

What is an Illicit Discharge?

An illicit discharge is any discharge, dumping, or spill into an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except for allowable non-stormwater discharges and discharges resulting from firefighting activities.  

Examples of allowable non-stormwater discharges include water line and fire hydrant flushing, landscape irrigation, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, foundation drains, air conditioning condensate, water from crawl space pumps, footing drains, lawn watering, residential and charity car washing, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, and flows from firefighting activities.

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Why is preventing illicit discharges important?

Stormwater is what flows over sidewalks, streets, and parking lots collecting excess nutrients and pollutants with no opportunity for soil and plants, or water treatment to filter out pollutants before entering into a water body.

Stormwater runoff is often worsened by human activities. Anything on the ground such as sediment, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizers, automobile fluids, yard wastes, and litter flows over HARD SURFACES directly into storm drains. This type of pollution is different from the water that goes down a sink or toilet in your home, because it is untreated and flows directly to a lake, river, or the ocean. By carrying all these different kinds of pollution into our waterways, stormwater runoff itself becomes a pollutant.


Drinking water and our recreational waters are impacted by stormwater pollution. Hazardous materials in stormwater like pesticides, fertilizers, and used oil can kill aquatic life. Sediment loss from construction sites can too. Stormwater carries disease-causing bacteria and viruses from stormwater pollution such as dog poo and litter. Stormwater can even carry grass clippings and leaves from yard work which help bacteria grow in our water bodies.  And, swimming in polluted waters can make YOU sick. So, stormwater pollution hurts aquatic life, impacts the healthy conditions in water recreation, and it increases the cost of water treatment for your drinking water.

Bacteria

What does the Town do to help prevent illicit discharges?

The Town of Fuquay-Varina implements a Stormwater Program to protect what goes into the town’s storm drains, and ultimately, its water bodies. Fuquay-Varina educates its citizens about stormwater and provides outreach and volunteer opportunities to help prevent or clean up stormwater pollution. The Town regulates what goes into the stormwater system through its illicit discharge ordinance and ensures new development does their part through erosion control and stormwater review, permitting, and enforcement. Lastly, Fuquay-Varina is committed to running Town facilities in a manner to prevent stormwater pollution through its Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping Program.  

Public Works

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What can the citizens of Fuquay-Varina do to help prevent illicit discharges?

Clean water begins with you and me. At home, dispose of your household chemicals safely or use non-hazardous products. When caring for your yard – use fertilizer responsibly and mulch it or bag it! Keep your vehicles serviced and use oil pans while waiting for repair. The EPA classifies pet waste as a dangerous pollutant – like oil. Scoop the poop! If you are a business, properly manage and dispose of grease.  And, of course, don’t litter!

Tips for Helping Keep Fuquay-Varina Clean

  1. Go Green with Your Yard
  2. Good Practices for Restaurants
  3. Household Hazardous Materials
  4. Litter
  5. Pet Waste
Only Rain Down the Drain