MCM 3 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Image of a person collecting a water sample from an outfall

Introduction

Our storm sewer systems carry water directly to our lakes, rivers, and wetlands without additional treatment, so to prevent pollution from entering our surface water, only clean stormwater should enter a storm sewer system. If any other discharge enters the system, it is usually an illicit discharge. Minimum Control Measure (MCM) 3 of the MS4 General Permit requires permittees to develop and implement a program to detect and eliminate illicit discharges within their storm sewer system.

MS4 General Permit requirements for MCM 3

The illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) program must include:

• A map of the MS4 that includes all pipes 12 inches or greater and their flow direction; outfalls, including the unique identifier and geographic coordinates; municipally owned or operated structural stormwater best management practices (BMPs); and all receiving waters.
• A regulatory mechanism to prohibit illicit discharges.
• The incorporation of illicit discharge detection into all municipal operation inspection and maintenance activities, such as those conducted on ponds, outfalls, and other structural stormwater BMPs. These inspections should be conducted during dry weather, when possible.
• Detecting and tracking the source of illicit discharges using visual inspections.
• Training of all field staff on illicit discharge recognition.
• Identifying priority areas likely to have illicit discharges by evaluating land uses associated with business and industrial activities, areas where illicit discharges have been observed in the past, areas with storage of large quantities of materials that could result in an illicit discharge. These locations should have additional illicit discharge inspections.
• Procedures for investigating, locating, and eliminating the source of illicit discharges.
• Spill response procedures. These procedures must include the requirement to notify the Minnesota Duty Officer.
• Enforcement Response Procedures to compel compliance with the illicit discharge prohibition regulatory mechanism.
• Documentation as required here.

Resources

Click on the blue links above in the "Requirements" section to get more information and resources specific to those permit requirements. In addition, all resources related to MCM 3 are below.

Fact sheets and guidance documents

• EPA MCM 3 guidance - EPA guidance and suggested BMPs for an effective illicit discharge detection and elimination program
• EPA Illicit Discharge Fact sheet - EPA fact sheet on MCM 3
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination A Guidance Manual for Program Development and Technical Assessments - EPA's manual on techniques to detect and correct discharges in municipal storm drains

Model laguage

• Illicit Discharge Model Ordinance Language - EPA's model ordinance language for municipalities to prohibit illicit discharges and connections

Documentation and tracking templates

• Illicit Discharge documentation template - MPCA template to track the required information related to illicit discharges discovered or observed by municipal staff and reports (e.g. complaints, referrals) of illicit discharges received by the municipality.
• MS4 Illicit discharge discoveries and reports tracking template - MPCA template to track the required information related to illicit discharges discovered or observed by municipal staff and reports (e.g. complaints, referrals) of illicit discharges received by the municipality.
• Documentation that MS4 staff should retain - List of all the documentation requirements (what information to keep, how long to keep it, level of detail to keep, etc.) for compliance with the MS4 permit
• Enforcement action documentation template - MPCA's template for documenting all enforcement actions used to compel compliance with your regulatory mechanisms
• Employee training tracking template - MPCA template to document all required information related to employee training events

Example procedures

• Procedure for Illicit discharge detection and elimination - City of Arden Hills' procedure for investigating, locating, and eliminating the source of illicit discharges
• Procedure for Illicit discharge detection and elimination City of Cloquet's procedure for investigating, locating, and eliminating the source of illicit discharges
• Procedure for responding to spills - City of Elk River's spill response procedure
• Enforcement response procedure - City of Red Wing's enforcement response procedure

Training tools

• Good Housekeeping employee training example - The City of Columbia Heights' employee training presentation
• Annual MS4 employee training example - City of Owatonna's employee training presentation

Checklists

• Rain garden/bioretention basin inspection checklist - University of Minnesota's (U of M) checklist for inspecting bioretention systems, such as rain gardens
• Constructed wetland inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting constructed wetlands
• Dry pond inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting dry ponds
• Filter strips and swales inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting filter strips and swales
• Filtration system inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting filtration systems
• Infiltration system inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting infiltration systems
• Underground sedimentation inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting underground sedimentation devices
• Wet pond inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting wet ponds
• Permeable pavements inspection checklist - U of M's checklist for inspecting permeable pavers
• Outfall inspection checklist - City of Rochester's checklist for inspecting outfalls
• Outfall inspection checklist - City of Arden Hills' checklist for inspecting outfalls