Engineering
Illicit Discharge
An illicit discharge is defined as any discharge to the municipal separate storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except for discharges allowed under a NPDES permit or waters used for firefighting operations. These non-stormwater discharges occur due to illegal connections to the storm drain system from residential, business, or commercial establishments. As a result of these illicit connections, contaminated wastewater enters into storm drains or directly into local waters before receiving treatment from a wastewater treatment plant. Illicit connections may be intentional or may be unknown to the owner.
Additional sources of illicit discharges can be failing septic systems, illegal dumping practices, and the improper disposal of sewage. The illicit discharge detection and elimination process will involve multiple parties to identify problem areas, trace the source of the problem, and eliminate the source. The parties involved will be the Department of Public Service, the Street Department, the Building and Zoning Inspection Department, the Lucas County Health Department, the Fire Department, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Coast Guard.
Examples of illicit discharges:

Do not put oil or any other chemical into a catch basin.


Do not discharge a hose directly to a catch basin.

Only clean stormwater can be put in the storm drainage system.
Improper Disposal of Yard Waste


Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
For Recycling of Household Hazardous Waste, please review the Recycler’s List.