Illicit Discharges

Illicit Discharge Oils With few exceptions, it is illegal to discharge anything other than pure storm water to the village’s drainage system (streets, pipes, inlets, storm laterals, and ditches) or to streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes. Basically everything added to storm water is a pollutant that may be discharged, accidentally or on purpose, directly to pipes or indirectly by flowing off of the land surface with rain, snow, or ice melt.

Discharge Examples

Obvious pollutant examples include:
  • Antifreeze
  • Biological Materials
  • Garbage
  • Household Chemicals
  • Oil Products
  • Paint
  • Pesticides
  • Radioactive Substances
  • Sewage
Less obvious items include:
 
  • Pet Waste
  • Rock
  • Sand
  • Soil
  • Swimming Pool Chemicals
  • Construction Refuse
  • Dirt
  • Fertilizer
  • Grass Clippings
  • Heat
Some real life examples are:
  • Dry Cleaners
  • Dumping From Oil Changes
  • Dumping Pet Waste in Inlets
  • Leaking Vehicles
  • Mechanic Shops
  • Over Fertilization
  • Septic Discharges
  • Tanker Spills
  • Used Water from Steam Cleaning Carpets
  • Yard Trimmings and Leaves in the Street
When all of these extra chemicals and pollutants are introduced into the storm water system, they can cause weed or invasive species growth and kill aquatic animals. Things to look for might include oil slicks, strange colored water, bad smells, and foreign objects in the water. Call the Public Works Department at (920) 434-4060 if you suspect illicit discharge.
Illicit Connections
Illicit connections are undocumented connections to the Village of Howard’s storm water system. These include service connections that come off of either industrial or residential property or even pipes that outlet into ditches that have not been approved or designed or documented by the village.

Help Keep Our Village Clean
Keep an eye out for suspicious activity, keeping our village clean starts with you! Report spills and illicit discharges to the Public Works Department at 920-434-4060.

Information Resources

  1. Illicit Discharge Response Procedure (PDF)
  2. Illicit Discharge Response Procedure Flow Chart (PDF)
  3. Illicit Discharge Spill Form (PDF)
  4. Stormwater Ordinance (PDF)
Illicit Discharge Toxic Waste