The city refocused its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program to target inspections of commercial facilities that have the potential to discharge pollutants into our storm drains and streams. Traditionally, the city inspected 30 percent of outfalls to look for IDDEs. IDDEs were rarely identified, so with MDEs approval they requested to refocus our efforts towards inspecting commercial businesses and eliminating pollution at its source. These commercial facilities include food service establishments (FSEs), auto businesses, stone cutters, large retail centers, and smaller, light-industrial businesses such as landscapers and carpet cleaners.
To ease the transition, the city took a phased, ramp-up approach. The program started with just the food service establishments, before adding other businesses in year 3. Further, at the first visit, Rockville introduced the program, good housekeeping and best management improvements that can be implemented, and why enforcement will occur. During program introduction, educational materials are distributed that describe stormwater Best Management Practices for business implementation. The judges overall felt this could be a very transferrable approach for other small municipalities and a great way to target resources at some of the dirtiest sites in a local watershed.
