Allen Co. Commissioners change rules for emptying pool water

LIMA — New changes are coming for the stormwater ways in Allen County. On Thursday morning, Allen County Commissioners approved a resolution for the Allen Soil and Water Conservation District to update its regulations. According to the resolution, the updated regulations will prohibit the illicit discharge of water to stormwater systems in unincorporated areas of Allen County.

“It can be anything from don’t throw your trash outside your car window and as extreme as don’t take your gasoline and dump it down your storm drain,” said Archambo. “A big update in this one is dechlorinating your swimming pool before you empty it during the summer. That does end up in our waterways and that is technically illicit discharge.”

Archambo said community members can let water sit for one month (without adding more chlorine) before dumping the water.

“I was helping with the process of creating these discharge regulations per Ohio’s EPA request to keep us compliant,” said stormwater coordinator Lydia Archambo. “Along with the Allen County Commissioners and our working group, we were able to create this. I think the main thing is ‘nothing but rain down the drain’.”

Archambo shared the importance of the change.

”It is a great opportunity to remind citizens of Allen County that storm drains are sensitive pathways to our rivers,” said Archambo. “We should not dump, throw or let anything go down the drain except for the rain. Many storm drains are direct lines to the river. Anything dumped in them does end up in the river and that is essentially illicit discharge.”

Archambo said the updated regulations give the backing the organization needs to say ‘don’t do that, you are not allowed to and here is why’. Archambo also said the regulations explain what illicit discharge is and how citizens can report it.

For more information visit https://www.allenswcd.com/illicit-discharge/.

Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.