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.