Locating and Eliminating Illicit Connections June 28, 2006 James Walls

Agenda 1.Background and Organization 2.Previous Methods 3.Current Methods 4.Questions and Comments

Regulation Background  Harris County is a Phase I community  Joint MS4 permit became effective October 1, 1998  Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Department of Transportation- Houston District, and Harris County; aka “Storm Water Joint Task Force”  Harris County is a Phase I community  Joint MS4 permit became effective October 1, 1998  Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Department of Transportation- Houston District, and Harris County; aka “Storm Water Joint Task Force”

Regulation Background  Web site is  Currently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit by the TCEQ  Web site is  Currently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit by the TCEQ

Organization Harris County Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services Harris County Public Infrastructure Division Environmental Public Health Engineering Division Harris County Storm Water Quality Section

Previous Methods  Respond to citizen complaints  Dry and Wet Weather Screening of major outfalls (conveyance of >36” or drainage of an area >50 acres)  Screened more than 1300 major outfalls during dry weather with less than 5% success rate of locating and eliminating illicit connections  Screened more than 130 major outfalls during wet weather and discovered no illicit connections Previous Methods  Respond to citizen complaints  Dry and Wet Weather Screening of major outfalls (conveyance of >36” or drainage of an area >50 acres)  Screened more than 1300 major outfalls during dry weather with less than 5% success rate of locating and eliminating illicit connections  Screened more than 130 major outfalls during wet weather and discovered no illicit connections

Current Methods  Citizen complaints  Major Outfall screening  Multi-Sector General Permit inspections  Commercial inspections  Citizen complaints  Major Outfall screening  Multi-Sector General Permit inspections  Commercial inspections

Citizen Complaints

 Agency created November 1953  Estimated 1.5 million people in unincorporated Harris County  Respond to approximately 250 water based complaints per year  Provide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotline  Agency created November 1953  Estimated 1.5 million people in unincorporated Harris County  Respond to approximately 250 water based complaints per year  Provide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotline

Citizen Complaints

Major Outfall Screening

 Have currently inventoried more than 3,000 Major Outfalls in Harris County and stored them in a centralized database  The outfalls that had a discharge or evidence of a recent discharge are scheduled for a return inspection  Have currently inventoried more than 3,000 Major Outfalls in Harris County and stored them in a centralized database  The outfalls that had a discharge or evidence of a recent discharge are scheduled for a return inspection Major Outfall Screening

 Conduct at least 110 of these inspections per year during dry weather conditions  Conduct at least 11 inspections per year during wet weather conditions  Receive a biannual list from TCEQ of utility districts that have submitted unauthorized discharge reports  Conduct at least 110 of these inspections per year during dry weather conditions  Conduct at least 11 inspections per year during wet weather conditions  Receive a biannual list from TCEQ of utility districts that have submitted unauthorized discharge reports Major Outfall Screening

Multi-Sector General Permit Inspections

 Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) became effective in August 2001  Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year (required to do 10 per year)  Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure compliance  If necessary forward to enforcement coordinator  Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) became effective in August 2001  Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year (required to do 10 per year)  Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure compliance  If necessary forward to enforcement coordinator

Multi-sector General Permit Inspections

Commercial Inspections

 Program was implemented in July 2004  Identified five different business sectors we felt could have a negative impact on storm water  Developed sector specific literature about storm water impacts

Commercial Inspections  Conduct at least 110 site visits per year  Program focuses on outreach as well as enforcement  Goal is to be proactive as opposed to reactive

Commercial Inspections  Main idea is to be more effective by stopping the pollution before it enters the system as opposed to finding its origin once in the pipe  The five sectors are restaurants, plant nurseries, vehicle and equipment washing,fueling stations, and automotive and boat care

Commercial Inspections

James Walls James Walls