City of Springfield, Florida Stormwater

09/07/2026

One of the obvious ramifications of mishandling waste is damage to the environment. It goes without saying that environmental pollution caused by poor and improper waste disposal can reap serious havoc on habitats, ecosystems, air, water, and soil. These consequences can have both long and short-term effects. Chemicals that are not disposed of properly can pass through wastewater treatment systems and enter drinking water or oceans, leading to health hazards and harming biodiversity. Pollution and toxins can impact fisheries, plants, livestock and contaminate other food sources. Human activity and waste has been linked to excessive growth of algae in oceans across the world, producing deadly toxins that kill marine life and impact human health. Ultimately, the most obvious and immediate consequence of improper waste disposal is the irreparable damage to the environment that will impact humans for years to come.

If you witness any illegal dumping or illicit discharges, please contact the City of Springfield Code Enforcement at 850-872-7270 x107 during normal business hours or the Springfield Police Department at 850-872-7545 after hours.

09/03/2026

What Can I Do to Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

The EPA controls storm water pollution at industries and construction sites by inspecting sites and enforcing the agency's requirements. However, a significant amount of storm water pollution is caused by everyday human activities that are not regulated by the EPA – washing and maintaining cars, littering, watering lawns, etc. There are many simple, basic steps people can do each day to prevent storm water pollution:

• Don't dump waste into storm drains.
• Keep yard clippings out of the street.
• Dispose of household chemicals properly by following the directions on the package or by calling the local public works department for proper disposal guidelines.
• Clean up oil spills and fix leaking automobiles.
• Use drip pans to catch engine oil and other pollutants while repairing cars.
• Recycle used motor oil.
• Sweep driveways clean instead of hosing them down.
• Water your lawn by hand, or adjusted sprinklers to avoid over-watering. If any water flows off your lawn, you're using too much water.
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash, or at least wash your car on an unpaved surface so the excess water can be absorbed by the ground.
• Drain swimming pools and spas into a sanitary sewer outlet, never into a street or a storm drain. Check first with your local wastewater treatment plant before disposing of anything in the sewer.

08/25/2026

08/07/2026

Why is Stormwater Pollution So Bad? As polluted water makes its way to the oceans, water quality can be affected, which often results in the closing of local beaches due to unhealthy water conditions. Stormwater carries disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Swimming in polluted waters can make you sick.

08/05/2026

When pet waste is not disposed of properly, it can end up in waterways like streams, rivers, lakes, or the ocean. As it decays, it can use up oxygen in the water, release ammonia, and create an environment for toxic algae to grow. This algae can steal oxygen from fish and harm other wildlife. In large quantities, these changes can lead to algae blooms and fish die-offs, especially during warmer months.
The simple act of picking up after your dog by “scooping the poop” can assist in removing harmful nutrients and bacteria from local waterways and the bay, keep our citizens health and our yards and shoes clean. Dog waste is an environmental pollutant. Pet waste can be smelly and unsightly. It can also attract rodents.
The EPA estimates that 2-3 days worth of waste from only 100 dogs can contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay and all watershed areas to swimming or shell fishing within 20 miles.
If you witness any illegal dumping or illicit discharges, please contact the City of Springfield Code Enforcement at 850-872-7270 x107 during normal business hours or the Springfield Police Department at 850-872-7545 after hours.

07/07/2026

Illegal dumping creates an eye sore to the public and is harmful to our waterways. Common types of materials that are illegally dumped are:
Asbestos
Discarded Furniture
Medical Waste
Waste Tires
Yard Trimmings
Construction & Demolition debris
Household Garbage
Obsolete Electronics
Please help to keep our waters safe for everyone!

If you witness any illegal dumping or illicit discharges, please contact the City of Springfield Code Enforcement at 850-872-7270 x107 during normal business hours or the Springfield Police Department at 850-872-7545 after hours.

07/02/2026

Now that we are in Spring, to help keep our stormwater clean please remember when fertilizing your yard to:
• Select the right type of fertilizer, applying it at the right time and in the right amount for maximum plant uptake and benefit.
• If you have a small strip of lawn that adjoins impervious surfaces, such as a sidewalk or pavement, use a spreader equipped with a deflector shield that will spread the fertilizer in a 180º arc to keep it away from the paved area. Use the same shield when you are fertilizing areas next to water bodies. Leave a 10-ft strip of turf around the water body unfertilized to avoid polluting the water.
• After applying fertilizer, you will need to irrigate long enough to move the granules off of the leaf blades and into the soil, where they will be taken up for use by the plant. This will avoid leaf burn and reduce potential runoff of nutrients. Only apply enough water to moisten the top 1/2 inch of soil. This will wash most of the fertilizer into the top few inches of the soil, where it will best be taken up. More water than this may lead to leaching of the nutrients past the root zone, which will result in potential groundwater contamination.
• When fertilizer makes its way into our waterways, it can cause large algae blooms which have toxic effects on local wildlife and people.

06/05/2026

What are illicit discharge signs?
• Unusual water color, oily sheen, foam, suds, turbidity
• Smell or fumes
• Discarded drums or other containers and materials
• Brown or dead plants around an outfall
• Sick or dead animals around an outfall
• Personal symptoms (burning eyes, nose or skin, nausea or headache)
If you witness any illegal dumping or illicit discharges, please contact the City of Springfield Code Enforcement at 850-872-7270 x107 during normal business hours or the Springfield Police Department at 850-872-7545 after hours.