Storm Water Operations

Responsibilities

The city's Storm Water Department is responsible for routine and emergency maintenance of public storm water facilities. Topics and issues addressed by the division include the following:

  • Administration of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program
  • Inspection and Maintenance of ditches systems, storm drains and public storm water ponds
  • Inspection of public and private storm water ponds
  • Monitoring lake levels and water quality
  • Planning and management of storm water projects
  • Street and right-of-way flooding

NPDES Regulations & Resources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was required by Congress in 1997 to develop regulations for Storm Water discharges to surface waters of the U.S. In response, the EPA adopted the NPDES Program (PDF).

The EPA delegated to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) the authority to regulate Storm Water discharge from municipalities in the state of Florida, including the City of Ocoee. The city operates under a Generic NPDES Permit, which requires the city to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Program with the goal to reduce the discharge of pollutants to surface waters to the "maximum extent practicable" and protect water quality.

Elements

An NPDES Storm Water Management Program contains 6 main elements provided below in order to comply with the NPDES permit. The program elements are expected to collectively reduce pollutants discharged into the city’s surface waters.