Illicit Discharge

The City of Champlin is working to eliminate illegal dumping into its stormwater system. Minnesota's public waters are sources of drinking water, provide recreational opportunities such as swimming and boating, and are critical habitat for wildlife and aquatic plants, which all can be negatively affected by pollutants that enter the stormwater system. Preventing and reporting illicit discharge is one way you can do a part to keep Minnesota waters clean, safe, and healthy. 

What is an illicit Discharge?

Illicit discharge is any release of substance (solid or liquid) to the stormwater system that is harmful to the health or welfare of people, the environment, wildlife, or surface waters. Illicit discharge includes examples such as: 

  • Sediment washing away from a construction site.
  • Sewage from broken sewer lines or overflow from private septic systems. 
  • Pesticides, herbicides, household cleaners paint, cooking oil, motor oil, excess salt, other chemicals, and litter. 

Illicit discharge can be intermittent, continuous, or temporary, but no matter the amount of time or frequency it still harms waterways. Notably, water line flushing, residential car washing, draining dechlorinated pools, lawn watering, and firefighting are not considered an illicit discharge. 

Rain falling into a storm drain. Logo of "only rain down drain" campaign
Person pouring oil down storm catch basin

A little spill is a big deal!

It only takes a very small amount of many types of chemicals to harm fish, plants, and other aquatic organisms. For example, just one teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate more than 13 Olympic sized swimming pools of drinking water. One common illicit discharge is concrete outwash. Cleaning equipment used to mix concrete can drain into lakes or streams causing a change in acidity of the water which may kill aquatic organisms. 

While most cases of illicit discharge may seem insignificant alone and occur by accident or through improper disposal, they add up to big impacts downstream. 

Suspect an illicit discharge?

If you create a spill, notice suspicious dumping into the stormwater system, or a body of water, you should report the problem.