See links below for more information, including the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition's annual report, tips for preventing stormwater pollution, green infrastructure in your home, and living next to stormwater management ponds and wetlands.
Stormwater pollution is the sediment, bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, automotive fluids, and other materials that are washed from surfaces such as parking lots, roads, roofs, and construction sites during a rain storm or snow melt. The gutters, storm drains, pipes, ditches, and outfalls that comprise the stormwater system transport these pollutants to the nearest waterway. The Town of Pittsford is committed to minimizing stormwater pollution and discharging stormwater in accordance with the NYSDEC SPEDES general permit.
Stormwater Management Program
The Town of Pittsford has developed and maintains a Stormwater Management Progam (SWMP) plan in the pursuit to keep stormwater clean. The SWMP consists of six minimum control measures: public education, public participation, control of illicit discharges, erosion control at construction sites, post-construction stormwater treatment, and pollution prevention at municipal facilities. The Town works with the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition to develop educational programs, offer and provide training to Town employees, and ensure Pittsford has the tools needed to keep stormwater and waterbodies clean.
Our SWMP plan is available to review Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm in the Town of Pittsford Department of Public Works office, second floor of Pittsford Town Hall, 11 South Main Street. Questions or comments about our SWMP plan should be directed to our Stormwater Management Program Coordinator April Zurowski at (585) 248-6250 or azurowski@townofpittsford.org.
Construction Site Complaint Reporting
Construction sites are required to control stormwater runoff so as not to cause erosion and sediment issues in the area. To report complaints about construction site stormwater activity, please contact Paul Schenkel at 248-6250 or by email at pschenkel@townofpittsford.org.
Illicit Discharge Information and Reporting
What is an Illicit Discharge?
Federal regulations define an illicit discharge as “…any discharge to an municipal storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater…” with some exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” and are prohibited because municipalities are not designed to accept, process, or safely discharge this non-stormwater water.
In Pittsford, the storm sewer system is a separate system of catch basins, pipes, and swales and is not part of the sanitary sewer system that transports sewage from our homes to the water resource recovery facility. That means water that enters the storm sewer system is transported to the nearest waterway, and ultimately to Irondequoit Bay / Lake Ontario, without being treated at a sewage treatment plant. Illicit discharges in storm sewer systems can cause significant environmental impacts to natural waterways, including algae blooms and bacteria, beach closures, fish kills, and water chemistry imbalance. For additional information about the impact of illicit discharges, visit the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition web page.
Sources of Illicit Discharges
Sanitary wastewater
Effluent from septic tanks
Car wash wastewaters
Improper oil disposal
Radiator flushing disposal
Pool backwash water
Laundry wastewaters
Spills from roadway accidents
Improper disposal of automotive fluids (mostly oils & coolants)
Household liquid wastes (cleaners, carpet cleaning wastewater)
How to report an Illicit Discharge?
Illicit discharges can come from a wide-range of sources including illegal dumping of paints, oils, cleaners, hazardous wastes, and pool backwash water, as well as improper connections of sanitary sewer lines or laundry waste to the stormwater system. Illicit discharges can seriously degrade water quality. If you see or suspect an illicit discharge, please contact us and report it; see contact info below.
Step 1: Observe from a safe distance. DO NOT touch or smell the substance.
Step 2: Notify – Weekdays: Monday – Friday, between 8:00am - 4:00pm please contact the Stormwater Management Officer Paul Schenkel at (585) 248-6250 Afterhours: email pschenkel@townofpittsford.org
Step 3: Provide the following information –
Your Name
Phone Number
Discovery / Incident Time, Date, and Location
Description of Material Observed Extent of Problem (slow trickle vs significant flow)
Why Report?
The sooner we learn about these incidents, the better our chances of finding the source and correcting the problem.
Town of Pittsford Contact for Stormwater Information
If you have any comments on the Annual Report or would like to inform the Town of a stormwater concern, please contact the Town’s Stormwater representative below:
Paul Schenkel
Commissioner of Public Works
Stormwater Management Officer
Email Paul Schenkel
585-248-6250
For information about our Stormwater Manangement Program plan, contact:
April Zurowski
Stormwater Program Coordinator
azurowski@townofpittsford.org
585-248-6250
Monroe County Stormwater Coalition Annual Report
The Coalition's Joint Annual Report includes compliance activities that were accomplished during the reporting period and performance measures to evaluate overall effectiveness of each minimum control measure. Reportable activities specific to each Coalition member may be obtained from the individual municipality. Click this link to view the Stormwater Coalition Annual Report for Pittsford. The public is encouraged to review these materials and provide comments to the Coalition staff or their respective member representative.
To learn more about stormwater and how you can help keep water clean in the Town of Pittsford, please visit the following links:
PROJECTS
PITTSFORD
2024 EVENT
MEETINGS
DOCUMENT