Not everything that flows into a storm drain is considered pollution but that doesn’t mean anything goes. Under the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), certain clean water sources like small amounts of irrigation runoff, dechlorinated pool water, or water from routine maintenance activities are considered allowable non-stormwater discharges.
The key word is clean. Even allowable discharges must be free of chemicals, dirt, or debris that could harm our creeks, rivers, and lakes. Dumping soapy water, motor oil, yard clippings, or other pollutants into a storm drain can have serious impacts on water quality and local wildlife.
Please visit our Stormwater webpage for more information. Together, we can make sure only clean water makes its way to our waterways because protecting the lake starts with what we put in the drain.
