Frequently Asked Questions What discharges are exempt in Fayette County?

Fayette County’s Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Regulation (Article XIII in Chapter 104 of our Development Regulation Ordinance) states that the following types of discharge are exempt (or legal):

1. Water line flushing performed by a government agency, other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising groundwater, groundwater infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, natural riparian habitat or wetland flows, and any other water source not containing pollutants;
2. Discharges or flows from firefighting, and other discharges specified in writing by the county stormwater management and/or environmental health departments as being necessary to protect public health and safety;
3. Non-stormwater discharges permitted under an NPDES permit or order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the state and the federal environmental protection agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or orders and other applicable laws and regulations; written approval has been granted for any discharge to the county's MS4 and/or state waters; and
4. Agricultural operations as defined in section 104-266(5) of the County's soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control ordinance.