NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System)

The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a national permit program designed to control the pollutants discharged into the surface water such as lakes, ponds, streams and even the ocean. Improvement in our nation's water quality can become a reality through public education and awareness, and through the implementation of steps that avoid or mitigate the problems associated with water pollution. Created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program is authorized to state governments by EPA to perform many permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the program.

Be Part of the Solution

Stormwater pollution is a major contributor to the degradation of our rivers and oceans. Everyone has a part to play. Reducing pollution depends on every person doing all they can to prevent harmful natural or chemical substances from entering the storm system. Activities that may seem harmless or insignificant on a small scale can have an enormous cumulative impact on our waterways.

Left: St. Lucie Inlet with large releases of polluted storm water runoff. Right: St. Lucie Inlet without large releases of polluted storm water runoff.
Left: St. Lucie Inlet with large releases of polluted storm water runoff.
Right: St. Lucie Inlet without large releases of polluted storm water runoff.

What are stormwater drainage systems?

Example of storm drain

Many residents may not realize the importance of a stormwater drainage system, especially when it is operating efficiently.

Stormwater drainage systems include curbs, ditches, pipes, gutters, culverts and, of course, storm drains, all of which collect the stormwater runoff and carry it to its discharge point, away from roads and structures.

Example of drainage outfall

When working properly and without obstruction, the stormwater drainage system prevents flooding of roadways, buildings and parking lots.

Throughout the city there are different types of storm inlets. They all have the same purpose: to collect stormwater and direct it into a storm system that is underground. This storm system then transfers the runoff to a canal or lake, eventually leading to the river.

Example of drainage canal

Whatever pollutants not removed in the process, either by settling in the canal or lake, or removed by the vegetation, will be deposited in our rivers. The City of Port St. Lucie has an ongoing water-quality testing program that samples the outfalls of our drainage canals into the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

Example of storm inlet stencil Inlet Marker.JPG

As a reminder not to dump pollutants down storm inlets, a stencil will be placed on the inlets throughout the city, with the illustration of a fish and the words "Please don't pollute, I'm downstream", "No Dumping Drains to Waterway".

How you can help minimize stormwater pollution

To minimize stormwater runoff pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that communities such as ours create a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).

SWMP addresses Best Management Practices (BMP's) that will be implemented to help minimize stormwater runoff pollution to the maximum extent possible.

Since stormwater 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 has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade. All that growth places an additional burden on our water supply and recreational waterways. Port St. Lucie residents must do their part to ensure that our area's growth does not result in the contamination of our precious and fragile environment.

The City 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 stormwater runoff pollution would be healthy household habits and reporting illicit discharges to the City.

The City is doing its part. Along with the maintenance and operation of the storm system, the City conducts employee training annually and inspect construction sites regularly for compliance with city codes and Department of Environmental Protection regulations. The City's drainage system has been mapped, if needed, to help determine the origin of illicit discharges, and the City has an ongoing water quality-testing program that samples the outfalls of our drainage canals into the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

What is allowed in stormwater systems?

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Allowable discharges:

  • Air conditioning condensate
  • De-Chlorinated swimming pool water discharges (<1ppm)
  • Discharge from potable water sources
  • Discharges or flows from emergency firefighting activities
  • Diverted stream flows
  • Flow from riparian habitats and wetlands
  • Flows from uncontaminated roof drains
  • Footing drains
  • Foundation drains
  • Individual resident car washing
  • Irrigation water
  • Landscape Irrigation
  • Lawn watering
  • Reclaimed water line flushing pursuant to a permit issued under authority of Rule 62-610, Florida Administrative Code.
  • Rising ground waters
  • Springs
  • Street wash water
  • Uncontaminated ground water infiltration (as defined in 40 C.F.R. 35.2005(b)(20)), to separate storm sewers.
  • Uncontaminated pumped ground water
  • Water line flushing
  • Water from crawl space pumps

How do harmful pollutants affect the stormwater system?

Among the many pollutants can cause harm to our stormwater are the following:

Sediments (dirt)

  • Reduces light penetration and affects photosynthesis, the process that allows plants to use light as their source of energy
  • Makes waterways cloudy and can suffocate fish by clogging their gills
  • Destroys aquatic habitats
  • Can clog ditches, culverts, and drainage pipes and create potential for flooding

Nutrients (fertilizers, yard waste)

  • Nutrients are compounds that stimulate plant growth, like nitrogen and phosphorus; nutrients are beneficial and necessary, but in high concentrations can become an environmental threat and cause algae blooms; when the algae dies off, it sinks and decomposes in a process that removes oxygen, killing fish and plant life (eutrophication)

Pathogens (human and animal waste)

  • Pathogens are disease-causing micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, causing health problems to humans, wildlife and plant life

Toxic Contaminants (oils, grease, pesticides)

  • These substances can harm the health of aquatic life and/or human beings
  • Many toxins are resistant to breakdown and tend to be passed through the food chain
  • Toxins are created by a wide variety of human practices and products, and include heavy metals, pesticides and organic compounds

Debris

  • Trash is the simplest type of pollution to understand—it interferes with the enjoyment of our water resources
  • Plastic bags, six pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts washed into our water bodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like birds, fish, and turtles
  • When trash decays it can become an environmental concern

Stormwater Pollution Hotline

Stormwater Runoff

The City of Port St. Lucie has reporting mechanisms that are dedicated to help protect surface waters from stormwater runoff pollution leaving a commercial construction site.

There are several forms of possible stormwater runoff pollution sources:

  • Construction Debris
  • Construction Dust
  • Turbid stormwater discharges offsite (dirty water leaving the site)
  • Silt fence not maintained or not installed correctly (sediments leaving the site)

If you notice any potential problems that may lead to stormwater runoff pollution leaving a commercial construction site, please call 772-871-5100 or report it by using the 1PSL app on your smartphone or web browser.

"Be River Smart" videos

Watch our public service announcements on how you can be "river smart."

Permitting Forms & Documents

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