What Is Stormwater Runoff Pollution?

Every day, trash, oil, sediment, chemicals, bacteria, and other pollutants collect on our rooftops, roads, parking lots, and driveways. When it rains, the pollutants travel over these surfaces, flow into the storm drain system, and in great volume end up in our creeks, rivers, lakes, and streams. Below are some common sources and concerns for each type of pollutant.

Pollutant	Common Sources	Reasons for Concern
Sediment	Construction sites Bare spots in lawn or garden Wastewater from washing cars and boats on driveways or in parking lots Unprotected and eroding stream banks	Loss or destruction of habitat for fish and plants Potential navigation hindrances
Pathogens	Animal and pet waste Malfunctioning septic systems Sewer overflows	Closure of shellfish beds and beaches Serious risk to human health
Nutrients	Animal or pet waste Grass clippings and leaves left on streets and sidewalks Leaves burned in ditches Overused or spilled fertilizers	Increased potential for nuisance or toxic algae blooms Lower levels of dissolved oxygen
Toxic Contaminants	Car and truck exhaust Gas spills Improperly applied pesticides Metallic debris from brake pads Oil leaks	Serious risk to aquatic life
Debris/Litter	6-pack rings Bottles Cans Cigarette butts Fishing line Improperly discarded plastic Paper Plastic bags Styrofoam Wrappers, etc.	Expensive to clean up properly Potential risk to human health and aquatic life Unpleasant to see along the side of a road or the bank of a river

Can the Fee be Modified or Reduced?

Property owners that retrofit their property with approved Best Management Practices that improve the quality of stormwater discharged from their property can receive up to a 100% reduction in the impact fee. Additionally, under the rebates program, the County will provide a limited amount of rebate funds each year to property owners to retrofit their properties. If there is an error in the way the County calculated the fees, an appeal can be made to the Department of the Environment.