Stormwater

About Stormwater / Runoff

Stormwater is rain and snowmelt runoff from roadways, construction sites, parking lots, and roof drains that is collected in gutters and drains to a local waterway such as the Genesee River or Lake Ontario. Stormwater pollution is the sediment, bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, automotive fluids, and other materials that are washed from these surfaces during a rainstorm or snow melt. In most cases, stormwater runoff is not treated at a wastewater treatment plant.

Read the draft 2025 Annual report here.

Efforts to Combat Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater Management Plan

The Town of Irondequoit maintains a stormwater management plan (SWMP) and is committed to educating and working together with residents and local businesses have clean stormwater. Irondequoit discharges stormwater in accordance with the NYSDEC SPEDES general permit for stormwater discharges from municipal separate storm systems (MS4).

Larry the H2O Hero

The Town of Irondequoit collaborates with the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition and promotes education through Larry, the H2O Hero.

Visit the H2O Hero website and remember: Only Rain Down the Drain!

How to Reduce Stormwater Pollution?

“Only rain down the drain”

No other solids or liquids should be dumped or poured into the Storm System.

Dispose of pet waste properly and safely.

Drain your pool into your yard, not the road (catch basin).

Practice regular maintenance on septic system.

What is an Illicit Discharge?

An Illicit discharge is “any discharge to a municipal sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater, with some specific exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because not all municipal storm sewer systems are designed to accept, process, and treat such non-stormwater wastes.”

Illicit discharges can include

Sanitary Wastewater
Effluent from septic tanks
Car wash wastewater
Improper oil disposal
Laundry wastewater
Spills from roadway accidents
Household toxins and food waste
Construction activity discharges

Why is it important to keep our Storm Sewer System Clean?

In our community, the Town of Irondequoit is unique because it is essentially a peninsula. With three freshwater bodies bordering three sides of our town:

The Genesee River to our West

The Irondequoit Bay to our East

Lake Ontario to our North

It is important to maintain the clean water quality of these water bodies to conserve natural plants and animals, as well as for residents and visitors’ recreational enjoyment.

This Map displays the storm watershed in the Town of Irondequoit.

Town Wide Drainage District

In 2004, the Town of Irondequoit created a Town Wide Drainage District to help comply with state and federal regulations regarding storm water systems and discharges.

Replacement of Storm Drains

The Department of Public Works is currently undertaking an effort to upgrade and replace deteriorated and undersized storm drains throughout the Town.