Resource Regulations

Image showing canal with vegetationNational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

The current Palm Beach County Municipal NPDES Permit was issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on September 8, 2016. SIRWCD is a copermittee along with 34 municipalities, the Department of Transportation, Palm Beach County, and four special districts. To complete the permit-related activities that are performed collectively by the co-permittees, an NPDES Steering Committee was formed. The Steering Committee meets on a regular basis to evaluate the program, to provide training and resources to the co-permittees, and to assist with the preparation of the annual reports. Staff continues to attend the Committee Meetings as a Steering Committee Board member. This past year the meetings included discussions on the FDEP Biennial Water Quality Watershed Assessment, public education, the Annual Reports and Joint Report, and required refresher training videos on spill prevention, illicit discharges and sediment and erosion control. The Cycle 4/Year 6 Annual Report was submitted to FDEP in March of 2023.

 

In 2020, the meetings included discussions on Pollutant Assessment Plans, a Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) update, public education, the Annual Reports and Joint Report, and required refresher training videos on spill prevention, illicit discharges and sediment and erosion control. The Cycle4/Year2 Annual Reports were submitted to FDEP in March 2020. In June 2020, FDEP presented their comments on the previous year’s Annual Report.The Steering Committee met on October 21, 2020. The meeting consisted of administrative activities, review of the Year 4 Permit, status of Pine Lake and Lake Osborne TMDLs and public education.In addition, staff responded to the NPDES coordinator on Audit esponses to the FDEP. The responses were sent on October 29, 2020. As part of the response, staff added information to the newsletter for public education concerning pet waste pick up and septic tank maintenance.

 

The Steering Committee met on January 20, 2021 and March 17, 2021. The March meeting consisted of the Annual Required Refresher Training. On May 12 and 13, 2021, the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation training occurred in conjunction with the co-permittee meeting. There was no Steering Committee meeting in June 2021. Staff met with FDEP on comment that FDEP made during the audit. FDEP was requiring the District to enter an interlocal agreement so that Palm Beach County can enforce illicit discharge occurences. Staff met with FDEP and determined that an interlocal agreement was not necessary. Staff responded to FDEP with a letter to address the comment. Their next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2021.

 

Click here for links to more NPDES information.

Public Facilities Report - Water Control Plan

Chapter 189 of the Florida Statutes, the Uniform Special District Accountability Act, requires the preparation and submission of a Public Facilities Report to governmental jurisdictions in which the District resides such as Palm Beach County, the Town of Jupiter, and South Florida Water Management District. Special Districts are required to submit an update to this report every five years and, at a minimum, the report must contain information as to the status of the District’s public facilities and changes or revisions to those facilities that have occurred in the past year. Since 1991, when the District filed its first Public Facilities Report, data collection has been an on-going process to provide for better and more accurate mapping of the works of the District. This year, there were no modifications to this plan. The facilities report will be updated to reflect the improvements completed under our capital improvement program.