Town passes ordinance cracking down on illicit discharges

EASTON — An ordinance that will crack down on the dumping and spillage of certain discharges in Easton is set to take effect in early August.

The Easton Town Council unanimously passed an illicit discharge ordinance on Monday following discussions of the item at three public meetings. Town Engineer Rick Van Emburgh worked to put the ordinance together, emphasizing that the only discharge that should end up in the street is rainwater.

“At the end of the day, the only thing allowed in the stormwater system is rainwater, so we need to do our best to keep everything else out,” Van Emburgh said.

Due to EPA requirements that were passed down to the Maryland Department of the Environment, the town is required to restrict certain discharges. The restrictions come since Easton is in its sixth year of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System program — a program that the state requires the town to follow.

The ordinance authorizes the town to perform inspections at sites where it has “reasonable cause” that an illicit discharge violation is occurring. The town may also fine violators.

However, Van Emburgh stated that the main goal is to make residents aware of the law and how to achieve “best practices” when disposing of substances.

“We’re not going to come out and fine anybody,” Van Emburgh said at the meeting. “We’re just going to come out, and we’ll have flyers.”

Matt Pluta, the Choptank riverkeeper for ShoreRivers, expressed support for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System program. Pluta said foreign material entering the stormwater system negatively impacts the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways. Grease from restaurants and concrete were two materials Pluta pointed out as harmful.

“Those storm drains along the street, those aren’t treated,” Pluta said. “The water that goes in there isn’t treated, it’s just a direct conveyance to our local waterways. Here in Easton, that waterway is the Tred Avon River right here at Easton Point.”

PROHIBITED DISCHARGESThe town engineer noted some specific examples during Monday’s Town Council meeting. Van Emburgh said the town is asking for leaves to be placed “behind the curb” for the public works crew to pick up. He also addressed the example of changing oil.

“We’re not going to be out looking for people changing the oil in their cars,” Van Emburgh said. “We’re looking to make sure it’s done in a responsible way, and if there is an accident, we use what’s available to us to clean it up.”

Some other prohibited discharges outlined in the ordinance include swimming pool water with chlorine levels beyond state regulations, new or used petroleum products, industrial waste and septic tank waste.

Chemicals put down drains in houses are fine, since those go to the sanitary sewer line and a wastewater treatment facility, Van Emburgh clarified at a previous Town Council meeting.

Exempt discharges include discharges from firefighting, irrigation water, dechlorinated swimming pool water in line with state regulations and residential car washing, among others.

While commercial car washers are not exempt, Van Emburgh said that car washing companies in town have proper recycling methods that will fall in line with the requirements of the ordinance.