Stormwater Management
Know Where Your Drinking Water Comes From
North Port is unique in that the Stormwater drainage system of roadside swales, ditches, canals and the Myakkahatchee Creek collect rainwater which the City uses as its main potable water supply.
Everyone wants clean water, but the choices we make today when maintaining lawns and septic systems can affect our water resources tomorrow. The good news is that you can help. Read about your drinking water supply(PDF, 416KB) and learn simple ways to nurture a beautiful lawn and maintain your septic tank while protecting Florida's and North Port's environment.
For further information on the stormwater program, please contact the North Port Stormwater Manager at the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.
Stormwater Quality Monitoring
Approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in May 2009, the City's Water Control Monitoring Plan defines the procedures to be used to monitor the quality of water found in the City's natural surface water bodies. The approved plan allows the use of hydrobiological (HB) monitoring data and sampling sites to satisfy the monitoring requirements of the national pollutant discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The sampling locations provide specific water quality data for the surface water runoff from the City of North Port. To view a copy of the annual NPDES Report, please contact the Stormwater Manager of the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.
To report a surface water quality pollution issue, please contact the North Port Stormwater Manager at the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.
A Charlotte Harbor Water Atlas is available on the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) website to provide the public with comprehensive and current water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data, as well as information on water resource issues.
Canal Watch Group
The City in cooperation with citizens of North Port have recognized the need to form a Canal Watch Group. The Canal Watch Group is open to anyone that wishes to conduct observations on any stretch of canal. Members will become ambassadors for our canals and environmental stewards for conserving North Port’s natural resources.
We take water quality concerns very seriously, and water quality calls are treated with priority at the City of North Port. In fact, the City in cooperation with citizens of North Port have recognized the need to form a Canal Watch Group.
Canal Watch Observation Forms can be downloaded here.(PDF, 125KB)
The canal system in North Port serves as the city’s drinking water source and must be protected from pollution. One major goal of the Canal Watch Group is to educate the public on how to minimize pollutants in our water resources through communication within our communities and neighborhoods. Another goal is to observe the canals for any illicit discharge or general unhealthiness. Examples of concern include excessive fertilizing or fertilizing during prohibited wet months. Concerns also include oil sheen, illegal dumping, improper disposal of plant and animal waste, algae blooms, excessive turbidity, dead fish and other affected wildlife. To help protect our water quality, North Port City Commission unanimously approved a resolution on October 9, 2018, to encourage the voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-around.
For more information about the newly formed Canal Watch Group, please contact:
Elizabeth Wong
Stormwater Manager
(941) 240-8321
ewong@northportfl.gov
Illicit Discharge Ordinance Rules (Ordinance No. 05-47)
The purpose of this Illicit Discharge Ordinance(PDF, 743KB) is to provide health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of North Port through the regulation of non-Stormwater discharges to the storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law. This Ordinance establishes methods for controlling introduction of pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES permit process. The objectives of this ordinance are:
- To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the MS4 by Stormwater discharges by any user.
- To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, monitoring and enforcement procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this Ordinance.
Stormwater Regulations in Unified Land Development Code
The Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) stormwater regulations and design standards are in Chapter 18 - Stormwater Regulations. Please click on the links below for the Chapter 18 Stormwater Regulations. A Stormwater submittal checklist is also provided to facilitate submission of a complete submittal.
Please contact North Port Stormwater Manager at 941-240-8050 if you have any comments or questions.
Fertilizer Ordinance
The City of North Port has adopted a fertilizer ordinance with enhanced regulations to protect drinking water quality and the environment. Read more about the Fertilizer Ordinance here.