Stormwater
Stormwater Hotline: (321) 724-5860, After Hours Emergency: (321) 286-6125
Stormwater runoff, a critical pollutant carrier, generally discharges into the Indian River Lagoon. These pollutants consist of oil, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers originating from lawns and vehicles. The quality of our environment and the recreation value of the Lagoon have decreased over the years and has resulted in federal and state government regulations to reduce and possibly eliminate some of the adverse environmental impacts of pollutants in our daily lives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delegated responsibility to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) of the Clean Water Act. The NPDES will regulate local point source and non-point source discharges of stormwater runoff into surface water. All municipalities and counties must obtain a NPDES permit from DEP on or before 2004, and develop/implement a stormwater management program that includes the best management practices (BMP’s) with measurable goals for the six minimum control measures (listed below). The Town of Melbourne Beach currently has an active stormwater management program with restrictive rules on development runoff control and pollution prevention. The Town also provides a stormwater management system funded through its existing stormwater utility fees.
Information about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) can be found at https://www.epa.gov/npdes.
The Water Quality Sampling Database is designed to allow you to search for information by watershed, county, and water body and to determine levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, and chemicals in the water’s makeup. This site is updated as information is gathered in the field.
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods – Protecting Florida’s Natural Resources
Through Environmentally Friendly Landscaping and Lawncare
Best Management Practices (BMP’s) under the NPDES Permit
- Public Education and Outreach
- Public Participation/Involvement
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction Site Runoff Control
- Post-Construction Runoff Control
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
Documents and Presentations:
Stormwater Masterplan (PDF): This is the Stormwater Plan Update. The file is quite large and make take a while to download for view.
PowerPoint Presentation – March: This is a PowerPoint Presentation.
Illicit Discharge
An Illicit Discharge is defined as:
Any discharge of the Town’s municipal separate storm sewer system or to waters of the United States which is not entirely of stormwater, unless exempted pursuant to F.S. 27-28, to the discharge to the Town’s municipal storm separate sewer system or to waters of the United States which is not in compliance with federal, Florida or local permits.
How You Can Avoid Illicit Discharge
- Don't use pesticides
- Irrigate property to avoid runoff in the streets that could reach storm drains or canals
- Don't add excess fertilizer to your yard
- Filter swimming pool water before discharging
- Blow grass clippings back onto the lawn - don't leave them on the pavement
- Wash cars on the lawn, avoid collecting water on paved areas
- Create shallow retention areas in your yard and divert driveway runoff to them
- Route roof gutter downsprouts to grassy areas
- Check vehicles for fluid leaks and repair when necessary
Steps The Town is Taking to Reduce Discharge of Pollutants
- Working with pesticide and herbicide applicators to ensure all town project workers are stace-licensed and certified
- Providing stormwater pollution prevention literature to vehicle maintenance facilities
- Periodically providing street sweeping services, monitoring the amount of collected materials and ensuring proper disposal
- Ensuring that staff members conducting lawn maintenance properly dispose of clippings rather than blowing them into streets or storm drains
- Training town staff iin spill prevention and contaminants and illicit discharge identification and investigation.
- Disposing of hazardous waste at the Brevard County Land Fill located at 3379 Sarno Rd, Melbourne, FL (For questions on hazardous waste please call 321-635-7954)