| What is Stormwater Runoff Anyway? |
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| Grass Clippings - An Illicit Stormwater Discharge |
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Stormwater runoff has been identified as the primary source of pollutant loading to surface waters in Florida.
As rain begins to fall, it encounters pollutants in the atmosphere from cars, power plants, and other sources. These chemicals bond to rain molecules and fall to the earth in a process known as atmospheric wet deposition. The rain hits the ground rolling; instead of falling on a wetland or tree – the rain comes in contact with our impervious surfaces – a roadway, driveway, building/housing roofs. The rain then picks up additional pollutants from the impervious surfaces, including oil, grease, and heavy metals. Now the molecule is officially stormwater, and because roads are impervious surfaces – meaning the rain can not pass through them – the rain is washed into a nearby stormdrain with millions of other water molecules equally as dirty as it. The stormwater is moving at such a rate through the stormdrain that in less than a hour it has made its way into an area lake, delivering a package of unwanted pollutants to harm the plants and animals in the lake rather than sustain them. The stormwater eventually evaporates leaving behind the pollution and returns to the cycle.
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| Gasoline - An Illicit Stormwater Discharge |
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As with most cities within the state, Lakeland's stormwater conveyance system was constructed prior to any concerns about the impacts of discharging untreated stormwater runoff into our lakes. As a result, the stormwater system typically consists of curb inlets that collect runoff from developed properties and streets, and pipes that runoff to our lakes and streams.
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Stormwater Pollution Prevention
Find out ways you can prevent pollution
from your own back yard from entering
into our stormwater system and eventually
our lakes and waterways.
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Numerous studies have been conducted that compare the quality of stormwater runoff from developed areas with the runoff from natural areas. Depending on the type of pollutant and the land use, pollutant concentrations in runoff from developed areas are often ten to one hundred (or more) times higher than runoff from undeveloped land.
Because of the importance of stormwater runoff to lake health, new programs and projects are being designed and constructed to treat runoff before it enters our lakes and streams. In December 1999, the City Commission adopted a Stormwater Utility Ordinance (4118) to provide a dedicated funding source for lakes and stormwater projects.
The Stormwater Program consists of several components. These include watershed planning, activities required under the FDEP's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for the City, the design and construction of stormwater treatment facilities, and permitting and compliance activities. |
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| For descriptions on our stormwater projects, see our Projects and Reports Page. |
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What Can You Do?
Please contact us if you suspect someone has illicitly discharged contaminants such as chemicals, construction materials, chlorinated pool water, paint, or yard waste to our storm drainage system. You can also leave a message on our Stormwater Hotline at 863-834-3300.
In case of an emergency (such as a large chemical spill), please contact the Police Department at 863-834-6900 or your local Fire Department.
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