Frequently Asked Questions About Brevard County Regional Stormwater Utility Department

Mission: To reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff to surface waters through a comprehensive program of improvement projects, resource protection, and public involvement"

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

BCC Home > Brevard County Watershed Management Program > Frequently Asked Questions

Did You Know? Important Stormwater Facts!

Stormwater runoff is the number one threat in Brevard county waterways.
The first inch of stormwater runoff carries 90% of the pollutants into our waterways.
Water that goes down a storm drain goes out to the waterways.
The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida at 310 miles.
The St. Johns River is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows north.
The St. Johns River supplies drinking water to surrounding areas through Lake Washington.
72 miles of the 156-mile long Indian River Lagoon is located in Brevard County.
The Indian River Lagoon contributes $731 million per year to the region's economy.
Over 4,000 species of plants and wildlife are in the Indian River Lagoon.
Properties along the Lagoon are valued at $825 million.
Recreational activities in the Lagoon contribute $465 million to Brevard's economy.
Lagoon fishing grounds account for $300 million in fishery revenues.
The Lagoon provides 19,000 jobs to area residents.
The Indian River Lagoon is the most popular fishing destination in Florida, with more than 1 million anglers visiting annually.
Over 2,000 stormwater outfalls drain into the Lagoon.
The "muck" located on the bottom of the Indian River Lagoon is decayed plant material and organic soil washedfrom upland areas.
More than 120 million pounds of fertilizer and pesticide-rich soil is flushed annually into the Lagoon in Brevard. That is enough to fill approximately 3,156 dump trucks.
Algae blooms are caused by excess nutrients in the water contributed by fertilizers.
Much of the lagoon's sea grasses have been destroyed by untreated stormwater runoff. The sea grass habitats serve as nurseries for many species including fish, shrimp and crabs.
Retention and detention ponds are the best way to treat stormwater runoff because they catch the water and allow the pollutants to settle out before being released into the waterways.
Many lakes in subdivisions are actually detention ponds designed to treat stormwater pollution.
To date, over 700,000 pounds of sediment have been kept out of the waterways through 35 sediment-collection structures called baffle boxes. That is enough to fill 18 dump trucks.
A single person excretes two billion fecal coliform bacteria in one day.It would take 54 million gallons of clean water on that same day to dilute the bacteria to safe levels for shellfish harvesting.

Home About Us Natural Resources Home Important Watershed Facts Watersheds Topics + Project Types Wet Detention Ponds Dry Retention Ponds Baffle Boxes Inlet Screens Swales Completed Projects Upcoming Projects + Pollution Prevention Yard Wastes Fertilizers & Pesticides Mulching Sprinklers & Downspouts Car Care Home Care Pet Care Pet Waste Survey + Public Education & Outreach Environmental Shows School Presentations Homeowners Associations' Guide Stormwater and the Construction Industry Storm Drain Markers Calendar of Upcoming Events Mission: To reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff to surface waters through a comprehensive program of improvement projects, resource protection, and public involvement" Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
	BCC Home > Brevard County Watershed Management Program > Frequently Asked Questions
	Did You Know? Important Stormwater Facts! Stormwater runoff is the number one threat in Brevard county waterways. The first inch of stormwater runoff carries 90% of the pollutants into our waterways. Water that goes down a storm drain goes out to the waterways. The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida at 310 miles. The St. Johns River is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows north. The St. Johns River supplies drinking water to surrounding areas through Lake Washington. 72 miles of the 156-mile long Indian River Lagoon is located in Brevard County. The Indian River Lagoon contributes $731 million per year to the region's economy. Over 4,000 species of plants and wildlife are in the Indian River Lagoon. Properties along the Lagoon are valued at $825 million. Recreational activities in the Lagoon contribute $465 million to Brevard's economy. Lagoon fishing grounds account for $300 million in fishery revenues. The Lagoon provides 19,000 jobs to area residents. The Indian River Lagoon is the most popular fishing destination in Florida, with more than 1 million anglers visiting annually. Over 2,000 stormwater outfalls drain into the Lagoon. The "muck" located on the bottom of the Indian River Lagoon is decayed plant material and organic soil washedfrom upland areas. More than 120 million pounds of fertilizer and pesticide-rich soil is flushed annually into the Lagoon in Brevard. That is enough to fill approximately 3,156 dump trucks. Algae blooms are caused by excess nutrients in the water contributed by fertilizers. Much of the lagoon's sea grasses have been destroyed by untreated stormwater runoff. The sea grass habitats serve as nurseries for many species including fish, shrimp and crabs. Retention and detention ponds are the best way to treat stormwater runoff because they catch the water and allow the pollutants to settle out before being released into the waterways. Many lakes in subdivisions are actually detention ponds designed to treat stormwater pollution. To date, over 700,000 pounds of sediment have been kept out of the waterways through 35 sediment-collection structures called baffle boxes. That is enough to fill 18 dump trucks. A single person excretes two billion fecal coliform bacteria in one day.It would take 54 million gallons of clean water on that same day to dilute the bacteria to safe levels for shellfish harvesting.


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