Storm Water Pollution Prevention
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What is NPDES?
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System is a national permitting program designed to control the pollutants discharged into the surface water such as lakes, ponds, streams and even the ocean. Through public education and awareness and through implementation of steps that avoid or mitigate the problems associated with water pollution, water quality improvement nationwide can hopefully be achieved.
How Can You Help Minimize It?
In order to minimize storm water runoff pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated that communities such as ours create a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP).
SWMP addresses Best Management Practices (BMP's) that will be implemented over the next five years to help minimize storm water runoff pollution to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP).
Since storm water runoff pollution does not come from one particular source, the way to minimize it is by public education and awareness, and the use of Best Management Practices.
Port St. Lucie is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. With that growth comes an added burden on our water supply and recreational waterways. Port St. Lucie residents must do their part to ensure that our areas growth does not result in the contamination of our precious and fragile environment.
The City of Port St. Lucie has a maintenance and operation program for its drainage system; however, it is everyone's responsibility to reduce the amount of trash and pollution that is carried into the storm system. Some of the activities that can reduce storm water runoff pollution would be Healthy Household Habits, and the reporting of Illicit Discharges to the City's new Hotline
The City of Port St. Lucie is doing its part also. Along with the maintenance and operation of the storm system, we are conducting employee training on an annual basis, and inspecting construction sites regularly for compliance with City codes and DEP regulations. The City's drainage system has been mapped, if needed, to help determine the origin of illicit discharges, and also we have an ongoing water quality-testing program that samples the outfalls of our drainage canals into the North Fork.
Be A Part Of The Solution! Everyone has a part to play. Reducing pollution depends on every person preventing harmful natural or chemical substances from entering the storm system. Activities that seem harmless or insignificant on a small scale can have an enormous cumulative impact on our waterways.