Under the Clean Water Act, Bernalillo County must obtain a permit from the EPA, as described above, in order to discharge stormwater to the Rio Grande. Any discharges into the storm sewer system or waterways that are not entirely made up of stormwater are considered illicit discharges. Illicit discharges could be pollutants dumped into storm drains, abandoned oil near waterways, illegal direct connections from sewer systems into the storm sewer system, etc. It is important to keep non-stormwater and pollution from entering our storm system because it all leads to our waterways. Pollution in our waterways is harmful to wildlife, the environment, and to people who recreate in our waterways or use the water for drinking.

If you witness or see an illicit discharge you can report it on our Submit an Environmental Complaint webpage or email water@bernco.gov. For more information, visit our Illicit Discharge webpage.

Illegal dumping is unsightly and leads to illicit discharges. If caught, illegal dumpers can be arrested or fined up to $1000. Illegally dumped trash and chemicals, such as oil, paint, cleaning chemicals, or other substances, can runoff and be picked up by stormwater, ending up in our storm sewer system and waterways. Bernalillo County has joined with partners in the Middle Rio Grande to combat illegal dumping around Bernalillo County through the Illegal Dumping Partnership (IDP). This resource is useful for reporting illegal dumping and educating the public about how and where to properly dispose of and/or recycle trash and household hazardous waste. Visit https://www.ihavetrash.com/ or https://www.ihavetrash.com/es  to learn more about IDP, to report illegal dumping, and to learn where to dispose of your trash.