Measures Enacted To Prevent Illicit Water Discharges

by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

A public hearing was conducted at City Council’s June 16, 2026, meeting about “dewatering,” primarily to clarify procedures and the difference between dewatering and discharge. Its purpose was to establish regulations governing pool discharge, dewatering construction sites, and illicit discharge into stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.

Following Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, the City received complaints about the discharge of swimming pool water and the dewatering of construction sites, including dewatering operations for home elevation projects. These activities increased the risk of untreated or sediment-laden water being discharged into the City’s stormwater system and onto private property not associated with a project’s operation.

To address these concerns during the ongoing State of Local Emergency, Mayoral Proclamations have continuously issued temporary restrictions for pool water discharge by prohibiting the dewatering of a pool or spa directly into a waterbody, into the City’s stormwater system, or onto any third party’s property without the third party’s consent.

The Proclamation also requires that the dewatering rate be slow enough to allow all water to percolate down through the owner’s property on which the pool or spa is being dewatered, and recommends the use of sorbent booms or socks to capture debris.

The ordinance considered at Tuesday’s public hearing is intended to replace and permanently codify those temporary emergency measures while also establishing broader protections related to construction dewatering and illicit discharges into both the City’s stormwater and sanitary sewer systems. The ordinance declares that:

1) Discharge activities must remain contained on the property whenever possible;
2) Appropriate erosion and sediment controls such as filter bags or sediment socks must be utilized;
3) Discharge onto neighboring properties requires written consent; and
4) Direct discharge into canals, ponds, streams, or other waterbodies is prohibited.

The ordinance was unanimously approved.