Illicit Discharge

An illicit discharge is any disposal, pouring, or dumping into the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except for permitted discharges and firefighting-related discharges.

Common examples of illicit discharges are spills of household substances such as:

Oil including motor oil, cooking oil, and grease
Paint and paint remover
Cleaners
Pesticides
Fertilizers
Pool chemicals
Wash water such as mop buckets, car washing, and power washing
Construction material including cement dust and concrete washout

Even if the spill occurs in dry weather, if the pollutants are not cleaned up, they can be washed into the stormwater system the next time it rains.

Dumping of unwanted materials, such as the following, is also considered illicit discharge:

Trash
Leaves
Grass clippings

If any of the previously mentioned chemicals are dumped into storm drains, catch basins, drainage ditches, or directly into water bodies, it is considered an illicit discharge.

Notice: The Stormwater Illicit Discharge Elimination Ordinance was adopted by City Council on April 8, 2025, effective upon adoption. For additional information, please review the new Chapter 155: Stormwater Illicit Discharge Ordinance (PDF).

Sources of Illicit Discharges

Illicit Discharges can enter the system through either direct connections or indirect inputs. Wastewater connections, whether intentional or inadvertent, should never be plumbed into the stormwater drainage system, but instead should be sent to the wastewater treatment plant where it can be treated before the water is released into the environment.

Sources of indirect inputs include:

Cracked sanitary systems
Spills
Illegal dumping of paint and used oil
Mobile car washes and pressure washing services that do not collect and treat wash water before proper disposal

As a result, illicit discharges enter the stormwater system and contribute high levels of pollutants as they flow directly into receiving creeks, streams, and lakes.

Report an Issue

To report a suspected illicit discharge, call the Stormwater Pollution Hotline at 704-282-4515 or submit a report. Please include the location, date, time, and description (such as materials dumped, if known) and attach a picture of the issue if possible. Report issues immediately to prevent further pollution and contamination of our waters.