It is illegal to dump anything other than stormwater or to connect any unauthorized pipe, ditch or other structure to a storm drainage system. Many storm drains outfall to Tampa Bay or the Intracoastal Waterway, so it is important to prevent anything other an stormwater from washing into drainage openings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act mandate that trash and harmful substances are prohibited from entering the surface waters through drainage sources.
Substances such as detergents, motor oil, and grass clippings may contain pesticides that can harm our water resources. They should never be washed into storm drains. Make sure to place trash in proper receptacles and dispose of yard waste and household chemicals properly.
The city encourages the reporting of illicit discharge or dumping into storm drains.