The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2014-15

ENFORCE: NPDES STORM WATER

GROUP:

ALL NPDES STORM WATER FACILITIES

MEASURE: VIOLATION TRENDS. TOTAL BY YEAR

MESSAGE:

The total number of violations remained relatively constant for the last four years.

*KEY STATISTICS FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2012-2014*
Total Number of Violations in 2014:	2,472
Total Number of Violations in 2013:	2,609
Total Number of Violations in 2012:	2,581

MEASUREMENTS - Data last updated on: October 26, 2015

Regional Offices	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Regional Office Total
1	57	55	49	89	12	6	5	87	101	77	67	44	91	59	78	799
2	131	12	98	65	5	7	6	299	263	194	85	175	88	370	55	1,798
3	19	29	94	30	201	458	64	59	245	72	43	108	39	75	13	1,536
4	243	1,197	1,156	728	525	305	234	175	1,291	799	263	802	456	565	759	8,739
5F	13	5	6	9	105	300	241	13	170	10	4	53	251	233	181	1,413
5R	63	20	128	28	151	46	39	71	71	67	22	39	44	32	27	821
5S	180	45	58	211	403	516	547	377	384	695	434	572	520	508	577	5,450
6A	4	13	34	28	58	36	58	9	9	18	13	42	8	20	30	350
6B	38	32	10	1	0	2	7	9	30	5	66	87	62	21	6	370
7	50	11	20	0	50	2	1	41	34	39	10	30	109	23	0	420
8	552	758	389	268	269	619	335	452	360	381	673	483	805	575	559	6,919
9	148	287	534	349	335	140	140	202	201	77	97	84	108	128	187	2,830
TOTAL	1,498	2,464	2,576	1,806	2,114	2,437	1,677	1,794	3,159	2,434	1,777	2,519	2,581	2,609	2,472	31,445

Click on a bar in the charts below, to show details for that region (third chart below).

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The trends in the number of violations recorded in the databases remained fairly constant over the last past four years, although there are variations between Regional Boards.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Violations are detected through review of self monitoring reports (SMRs), inspections and complaints. The enforcement policy requires that the Water Boards ensure that all violations are documented in the appropriate Water Board data management system. According to the enforcement policy all violations will be entered within 10 days of discovery of the violation. Identification and documentation of violations is important to ensure that water quality is protected and that serious violations and those high priority violations receive an adequate enforcement response. Tracking violations and compliance rates over time is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the Water Boards' enforcement policies and actions.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Data Source: CIWQS and SMARTS. Data extracted on October 5, 2015.
Unit of Measure: Violations documented.
Data Definitions: Violations with status "violation".
References: Information on the Water Boards' NPDES Storm Water Program
Public Reports and Data
Office of Enforcement
The Water Boards' Enforcement Policy

GLOSSARY

Construction Storm Water Program: Dischargers whose projects disturb one or more acres of soil or whose projects disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs one or more acres, are required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity. Construction activity subject to this permit includes clearing, grading and disturbances to the ground such as stockpiling, or excavation, but does not include regular maintenance activities performed to restore the original line, grade, or capacity of the facility. For more information, see the Construction Storm Water Program.
Industrial Storm Water Program: The Industrial General Permit is an NPDES permit that regulates discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities. The Industrial General Permit requires the implementation of Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT) and Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT) to achieve performance standards. For more information, see the Industrial Storm Water Program.
Municipal Storm Water Phase I Facilities: The Municipal Storm Water Permitting Program regulates storm water discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). Storm water is runoff from rain or snow melt that runs off surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways or parking lots and can carry with it pollutants such as: oil, pesticides, herbicides, sediment, trash, bacteria and metals. The runoff can then drain directly into a local stream, lake or bay. Often, the runoff drains into storm drains which eventually drain untreated into a local waterbody. For more information, see the Municipal Storm Water Program.

( Page last updated: 11/30/15 )