Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
An illicit discharge is defined by the US EPA as “any discharge into a separate storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of storm water”. Typically, illicit discharges enter a storm sewer system either through direct connections, e.g., sanitary sewer piping, or indirectly from cracked sanitary sewer conveyance systems, spills collected by storm drains, or from contaminants dumped directly into a storm drain inlet. Pollutants associated with illicit discharges include heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, viruses and bacteria. These untreated discharges have the potential to cause significant degradation to receiving water bodies. The following are typical examples of illicit discharges:

• Sanitary wastewater
• Effluent from septic tanks
• Laundry wastewater
• Commercial car wash discharges
• Improper disposal of household or automotive toxics
• Spills from roadway accidents

Illicit Discharges are against the law and the Beckley MS4 works to actively identify and eliminate illicit discharge sources.  Citizens are encouraged to report any suspected illicit discharge to the Beckley Sanitary Board at 304-256-1760 or mailto: comments@beckleysanitaryboard.org.

For more information on illicit discharges, refer to EPA’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Minimum Control Measure Fact Sheet 2.5 by clicking here.