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Storm Water Prevention

Delaware City has a Stormwater Prevention Ordinance and participates in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Mandated by Congress under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Stormwater Program is a comprehensive two-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of stormwater discharges which adversely affect the quality of our nation’s waters. The program uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting mechanism to require the implementation of controls designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed by stormwater runoff into local water bodies.

When residents see evidence that someone has dumped chemicals or debris into the storm sewer system, here’s what they can do:

  • Visit the website and fill out an online form
  • Call or send a text message to (302) STOPPIT (302.786.7748) with the location and details
  • Email with the location and details

The stormwater management programs are designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed by stormwater runoff into the storm sewer system (or dumped) and then discharged from the storm sewer system into local waterbodies. Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40 percent of surveyed U.S. water bodies which do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local water bodies. When left uncontrolled, this water pollution can result in the destruction of fish, wildlife, and aquatic life habitats; a loss in aesthetic value; and threats to public health due to contaminated food, drinking water supplies, and recreational waterways. 

We partner with New Castle County and Del D.O.T. for a comprehensive Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Management Program (SWPP MP). As part of our agreement, Delaware City submits an 2018 Annual NPDES Report to New Castle County updating them on our Storm Water practices. If you should witness any illegal discharges to our storm water system, please report it immediately to Town Hall 302-834-4573. Illegal discharges are anything which causes or contributes to pollution of our storm water system. Pollutants may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents; motor oil and other automotive fluids; non-hazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects and accumulations, that may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal chloroform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind. For special recycling information for some of these pollutants, please visit the DSWA website. More Stormwater information. Only rain down the drain! Remember If You Wouldn’t Drink It, Don’t Dump It!!