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Storm Water Management
Storm drains are separate from the sanitary sewer system and polluted waters flow directly into local creeks and waterways. To protect the quality of our streams and public health, we encourage you to report illicit discharges. Anything entering the storm sewer system that is not 100% storm water is an illicit discharge and is expressly prohibited from entering the system by the City of Allen.
- 24-Hour Reporting Hotline: 214.509.4512
- Illicit Discharge
- EROSION & CONSTRUCTION
- Annual Report
- Stormwater Education
- stormwater management Plan
Common Illicit Discharge Violations
- Chlorinated backwash and draining associated with swimming pools
- Commercial car wash
- Contaminated foundation drains
- Cooling water unless no chemicals added or has TPDES permit
- Fats, oils, and grease from residential or commercial cooking activities
- Fertilizers, pesticides, lawn/landscape waste
- Household toxins
- Industrial discharges
- Oil, anti-freeze, paint, cleaning fluids
- Sanitary sewer discharges
- Septic tank discharges
- Wash waters from commercial/industrial activities
- Washing machine discharges
Reporting Illicit Discharges
When reporting Illicit Discharges, include the following information:
- Date and time of the violation
- Description of what is being discharged into the storm system
- License plate number and description of the offending vehicle (if applicable)
- Personal description of the violator
- Specific street location within the city
- Your name and telephone number (helpful to investigate and prosecute and you can remain anonymous)
Erosion Control & Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans
Stabilization
Erosion control and stabilization measures must be initiated immediately in portions of the site where construction activities have temporarily ceased and will not resume for a period exceeding 14 calendar days. Stabilization measures that provide a protective cover must be initiated immediately in portions of the site where construction activities have permanently ceased. The term "immediately" is used to define the deadline for initiating stabilization measures. In the context of this requirement, "immediately" means as soon as practicable, but no later than the end of the next work day, following the day when the earth-disturbing activities have temporarily or permanently ceased.
Annual Report
City of Allen must submit an annual report of our Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality each year. This report includes our progress towards achieving program benchmarks and permit compliance. Additionally, current permit parameters require the City of Allen to post our submitted annual report for public viewing:
A survey conducted in the Upper Trinity Basin reveals that a majority of North Texans still believe industry is to blame for pollution of our waterways. In an effort to educate the public about stormwater pollution, specifically the fact that each individual’s own daily activities contribute directly to this issue, the educational resources below identify actions that can be taken to reduce or prevent stormwater runoff pollution in homes, communities, and throughout the region.
- Be a Scooper Hero! Doo The Right Thing Video
- Cease the Grease Video
- Defend Your Drains
- Fred the Fish Video
- Know Where it Goes Brochure
- Stormwater Pollution Video
- Stormwater to Drinking Water Video
How you can help
Law enforcement officials need your help in fighting environmental crime. Citizens can take an active role in stopping illicit discharges by following the suggestions listed below:
- Always dispose of your own chemicals properly. Find out how to safely and easily dispose of a residential thermostat for free.
- Organize volunteer cleanups of waterway areas
- Spread the word to friends and neighbors that an illicit discharge is a crime
- Verify your contractors and/or vehicles are not causing chemicals to enter storm drains
Concerns
Several national comprehensive studies have indicated that storm water runoff pollution within highly urbanized areas is a major contributor to water pollution in the United States. As rain falls and storm water runoff collects and travels over urban lands, it picks up and carries pollutants through municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and ultimately on to streams, lakes, rivers and other water sources impairing water quality.
Under the authority of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a storm water permitting program with the goal of significantly reducing the pollution source. The City of Allen has been designated by the EPA as an urbanized area and therefore must make application to discharge storm water to waters of the United States.
View the City of Allen TPDES Permit.
Helpful links
The City of Allen has submitted its permit renewal application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). If you are interested in the submitted Stormwater Management Plan and corresponding Notice of Intent (NOI), please view the draft Stormwater Management Plan below. At this time, along with many other municipalities in North Texas, the City has not received approval for our renewed permit submission.