What is an Illicit Discharge?
Federal regulations define an illicit discharge as “…any discharge to an municipal sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater…” with some exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because municipalities are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes.
Sources of Illicit Discharges and Construction Site Pollution
- Sanitary wastewater
- Effluent from septic tanks
- Car wash wastewaters
- Improper oil disposal
- Radiator flushing disposal
- Spills from roadway accidents
- Improper disposal of automotive fluids (mostly oils & coolants)
- Soil/sediment entering the stormwater system from construction sites
How to report an Illicit Discharge or Construction Site Pollution Source?
Step 1: Observe from a safe distance. DO NOT touch or smell the substance.
Step 2: Notify –
- Phone: Facilities service center, (585) 395-2408
- Email: servicecenter@brockport.edu
- Note: if you believe that the discharge you are observing has the potential to pose an immediate and severe risk to the health or life to humans, animals or the environment, please contact University Police at (585) 395-2222.
Step 3: Provide the following information –
- Your Name
- Phone Number
- Discovery / Incident Time, Date, and Location
- Description of Material Observed
- Extent of Problem (slow trickle vs significant flow)
Why Report?
The sooner we learn about these incidents, the better our chances of finding the source and correcting the problem.
What does an Illicit Discharge commonly look like?
To see examples of an Illicit Discharge, visit the Illicit Discharges page from the Town of Perinton.