Report Pollution
Report-a-Polluter
- To report a large spill or emergency situation, please immediately contact the City of Valparaiso Fire Department and Police at 911.
- To report illicit discharges and illegal connections, please contact the City of Valparaiso MS4 program at 219-462-1161 or send an email to our Report-A-Polluter email hotline.
- To report construction site issues, e.g. erosion and sediment control problems, please call the Engineering Department at 219-462-1161.
- To report leaking sanitary sewer lines and other sanitary sewer related issues, please call the City Utilities at 219-462-6174.
If you are unsure who to call, please call the Police Department non-emergency number at 219-462-2135.
For general inquires feel free to contact City Hall at 219-462-1161.
Illicit Discharges & Illegal Connections
Illicit Discharge
An illicit discharge is an unlawful act of disposing dumping, spilling, emitting, or other discharge of any substance other than stormwater into the storm drain system; such as catch basins, yard inlet, or lakes and streams.
Examples of illicit discharges include:
- Paint, oil, antifreeze, or other chemical being poured into or near a storm structure
- Discarding yard waste, e.g. leaves and brush, in or near a storm structure
- Draining chlorinated swimming pool water with more than one ppm residual chlorine in or near a storm structure
- Water from a washing machine emptying into a yard
Solution - Alternative Disposal Methods:
- Oil-based paints should be properly disposed at the Regional Household Waste Collection sites. Water-based paints that have completely dried can be disposed in regular garbage. Latex paint is now also accepted at collection sites.
- Motor oil and other automotive fluids can be taken to many local auto parts stores or garages for recycling. They are also accepted at Household Waste Collection sites.
- The city provides curbside pickup of brush and yard waste. Call Public Works Department at 219-462-4612 for more information.
- Dechlorinate swimming pool water before it is discharged.
Illegal Connection
An illegal connection is an unlawful connection which allows the discharge of non-stormwater to the storm drain system or lakes and streams via pipe or other direct connection.
Examples of possible illegal connections include:
- Floor drains going into the storm drain system
- Wash water from laundromats or commercial carwashes tying into a storm drain system
- Pipe from a washing machine tying into a storm drain structure
- Sewer service pipe tying into a storm structure or emptying into local water bodies
Solution - Alternative Disposal Methods:
- Have floor drains and washing machines properly connected to the sanitary sewer line. Call City Utilities at 219-462-6174 for more information
- Many commercial car washes recycle their water, using it multiple times in early rinses before draining into the sanitary sewer line
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Mingyan Zhou
Deputy Engineer / MS4 CoordinatorPhone: 219-462-1161
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Stormwater
Physical Address
166 Lincolnway
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-462-1161