03_IDDE Policy (March 18, 2021)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Policy
Department of Environment, Health and Safety
March 18, 2021
1. Purpose of Policy
The purpose of this Policy is as follows:
A. To improve the quality of surface water and ground water within the watershed areas
owned and maintained by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-
Chapel Hill) by preventing illicit discharges and illicit connections.
B. To prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater runoff from UNC-Chapel Hill
properties and operations into the storm drainage system and natural waters within
UNC-Chapel Hill.
C. To comply with the requirements of UNC-Chapel Hill's stormwater permit.
D. To comply with all United States Environmental Protection Agency and State laws
applicable to stormwater discharges.
2. Definitions
An Illicit Discharge is the discharge of pollutants or non-stormwater materials to the
storm drainage system via overland flow or direct dumping of materials into a catch
basin or inlet. Examples of illicit discharges include overland drainage from car washing
or cleaning paint brushes in or around a catch basin.
An Illicit Connection is the discharge of pollutants or non-stormwater materials into the
storm drainage system via a pipe or other direct connection. Sources of illicit
connections may include sanitary sewer taps, wash water from laundry facilities, wash
water from sinks, or other similar sources.
3. Illicit Discharges
No University employee, student, visitor, contractor, department, or unit shall cause or
allow discharges into the UNC-Chapel Hill storm drainage system which are not
composed entirely of stormwater, except for the allowed discharges listed in Section 5.
Prohibited discharges include but are not limited to: oil, anti-freeze, grease, chemicals,
wash water, paint, animal waste, garbage, and litter.

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4. Illicit Connections
The following connections are prohibited, except as provided in Section 5 below:
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows any non-
stormwater discharge, including but not limited to sewage, process water, waste water,
or wash water, to enter the stormwater drainage system, and any connections to the
storm drain system from indoor drains or sinks.
5. Allowed Discharges
The following discharges to the storm drainage system are allowed:
A. Discharges that are specifically permitted under a State or federal stormwater
program.
B. Incidental non-stormwater discharges which do not significantly contribute to the
pollution of UNC-Chapel Hill surface waters and are limited to the following:
- water line and fire hydrant flushing;
- reclaimed water line flushing;
- diverted stream flows;
- rising groundwaters;
- uncontaminated groundwater infiltration;
- uncontaminated pumped groundwater;
- discharges from potable water sources;
- foundation drains;
- air conditioning condensate (commercial/residential);
- irrigation waters, including but not limited to reclaimed water and air conditioning
condensate;
- springs;
- water from crawl space pumps;
- footing drains;
- flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;
- dechlorinated swimming pool discharges;
- street wash water;
- flows from emergency fire fighting; and
- flows from routine drainage of fire sprinkler systems.
C. In the event that UNC-Chapel Hill determines that any of the above discharges
contribute to pollution of campus streams or other surface waters or is notified by a
State or federal government agency, such as the North Carolina Division of Energy,
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Mining and Land Resources, that the discharge must cease, UNC-Chapel Hill will
instruct the responsible person to cease the discharge.
D. When instructed to cease the discharge, the discharger of substances newly
classified as pollutants shall cease the discharge immediately and be given
reasonable time to make corrections so that the discharge will not continue into the
future.
E. Nothing in this Policy shall affect a discharger's responsibilities under federal or State
law.
6. Enforcement and Penalties
A. Whenever UNC-Chapel Hill finds that a violation of this Policy has occurred, UNC-
Chapel Hill may order compliance by written notice to the responsible person. Such
notice may require without limitation:
i. The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
ii. The elimination of prohibited discharges or connections;
iii. Cessation of any violating discharges, practices, or operations;
iv. The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination hazards
and the restoration of any affected property;
v. Payment of any fee, penalty, or fine assessed against UNC-Chapel Hill to cover
remediation cost;
vi. The implementation of new stormwater management practices; and
vii. Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, where appropriate.
B. Such notification shall set forth the nature of the violation(s) and establish a time limit
for correction of these violation(s). Said notice may further advise that, if applicable,
should the violator fail to take the required action within the established deadline,
then UNC-Chapel Hill's Department of Environment, Health and Safety will initiate
work orders for the appropriate corrective actions and the individual or University
department will be charged for the cost.
7. Inspection and Sampling of Outfalls
UNC-Chapel Hill shall, at a minimum, visually inspect outfalls draining one fifth of its
geographic area per year during dry weather conditions. Flows suspected of containing
illicit discharges due to the presence of odors, colors or sheens shall be tested. Test
parameters may include but are not limited to ammonia, detergent, chlorine,
phosphorus, nitrogen, pH, conductivity, turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen.
The results of the inspections and testing shall be maintained in a geographic
information system (GIS) database that links outfall locations to inspection dates,
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chemical tests conducted, and follow-up procedures implemented to correct any
detected illicit discharge. The physical condition of the outfall shall also be noted during
the inspections. Illicit discharge data from the GIS database will be used in the
preparation of the annual report to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
8. Illicit Discharge Training
Training on how to identify and report illicit discharges and implement good
housekeeping and pollution prevention best management practices shall be presented
to UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care System maintenance employees. Training
shall consist primarily of classroom training, with online training serving as backup for
those unable to attend the classroom training. Following the initial training, training
shall be repeated as needed. UNC-Chapel Hill shall maintain a database of employees
who have completed the training and the date that training occurred.
This Policy is effective 3/5/2009.
Last revised 3/18/2021.
This Policy is maintained and enforced by the Department of Environment, Health and Safety.
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