Minimum Control Measure #3

Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination (IDDE)

 

Stormwater Hotline: (303) 663-6181

 

Program Objectives

Illicit discharges can lead to pollutants reaching receiving waters. Parameters of special concern include heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, pathogens, and bacteria. The objectives of Douglas County’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program include the minimization, tracking, controlling, and reporting of illicit discharges into and out of the County’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), to the maximum extent practicable.

Because there is not a significant industrial presence within the Phase II Permit boundary of Douglas County, the primary focus of the IDDE program will be on educating the public and local businesses as to how their activities could potentially affect the quality of local receiving waters.

General objectives of the IDDE Program include:

• Meet the IDDE requirements of the Water Quality Control Division’s (WQCD) Stormwater Phase II program, including quick and effective responses to illicit discharges to the County’s MS4.
• Meet the IDDE requirements of the Cherry Creek Reservoir Control Regulation for those portions of the County within the Cherry Creek Basin.
• Promote proper and consistent illicit discharge detection and elimination methodologies.
• Promote cooperation regarding IDDE programs among and between all Phase II permittees.

An additional objective of the County’s IDDE program is to educate County residents and employees and applicable HOAs and metro districts on the importance of preventing, detecting, and eliminating illicit discharges in the County through adherence to the County’s IDDE Program. By successfully implementing our IDDE Program, we can:

• Reduce or eliminate careless or illegal discharges to our MS4 that can result in pollutants reaching local water bodies or areas of natural importance via stormwater.
• Reduce or eliminate pollutant discharges that can affect safety and health, water quality, wildlife, and eventually damage the quality of life in the County.
• Control or eliminate illicit discharges to and from our MS4 .

 

Illicit Discharges

Following is a list of all known discharges to the Douglas County MS4 that are considered to be illicit (illegal):

Sanitary wastewater sources such as:

• Sanitary wastewater (usually untreated) from improper sewerage connections, exfiltration or leakage
• Effluent from improperly operating or improperly designed septic tanks
• Overflows of sanitary sewerage systems

Automobile maintenance and operation sources such as:

• Untreated commercial car wash wastewaters
• Untreated radiator flushing wastewaters
• Untreated engine degreasing wastes
• Improper oil, gasoline, and other automotive fluids disposal
• Leaky underground storage tanks
• Untreated leaking of oils, gasoline and other automotive fluids
  

Landscape irrigation sources such as:

• Direct spraying of fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides onto impervious surfaces
• Over-application of fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides onto landscaping
  

Other sources such as:

• Laundry wastes
• Non-contact cooling waters
• Metal plating baths
• Dewatering of construction sites
• Washing of concrete ready-mix trucks
• Contaminated sump pump discharges
• Improper disposal of household toxic wastes
• Spills from roadway and other accidents
• Chemicals, hazardous materials, garbage, and sanitary sludge landfills and disposal sites
• Commercial use of soaps and detergents; use in cleaning pavement, vehicles and equipment;
• Sediment from lack of or improper maintenance of erosion and sedimentation controls;
• Latex/oil-based paints & solvents;
• Trash and debris: littering and dumping, household or construction waste
• Improper disposal of restaurant grease.
  

Acceptable Discharges

According to the WQCD’s Phase II Stormwater regulations, an IDDE program need only address the following categories of non-stormwater discharges if the operator of a small MS4 (i.e., Douglas County) identifies them as significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4 (which we do not):

NOTE: even if one of these discharges is not covered under the Phase II Stormwater Regulation, it still may require a state-issued permit, such as a Minimal Industrial Discharge (MINDI) Permit.