Stormwater

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rainfall runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage. During a rain event, stormwater flows over land or over impervious surfaces such as streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground.

What is stormwater pollution?

Stormwater pollution can include chemicals, litter, trash, sewage overflow, fats, oils, grease, used motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, pet waste, paint, sediment, and construction debris. Stormwater pollution can harm our local creeks negatively impacting aquatic life, wildlife, and recreational use.

How does stormwater and stormwater pollution flow into our creeks?

Stormwater flows into the city’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) through entry points like curb inlets or flows over land. Stormwater collected and transported through the city’s storm sewer system discharges into the nearest receiving waterbody, untreated.

What is an illicit discharge?

An illicit discharge is defined as any discharge to a MS4 that is not entirely composed of stormwater. The City of Hutto’s Illicit Discharge ordinance prohibits the direct and indirect discharge of pollutants. Violating the illicit discharge ordinance can result in a criminal penalty of $500.00 to $2,000.00 per violation, per day.

Examples of an illicit discharge are motor vehicle fluids, household hazardous waste, garbage/trash, tree leaves and yard trimmings, and construction site sediment and debris.

To report an illicit discharge, spill, or construction site runoff, submit your concern through the Citizen Request Tracker; by email to [email protected], or by phone at (512) 759-4003.