The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2014-15
REGULATE: WASTE DISCHARGES TO LAND - WDR
GROUP:
INDUSTRIAL WASTE WDR FACILITIES
MEASURE:
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF FACILITIES INSPECTED
MESSAGE:
In FY 14/15, 8 percent of industrial facilities regulated under individual WDRs were inspected statewide.
Key Statistics for FY 2014-15
Number of Active Facilities
871
Number of Inspections
70
Number of Facilities Inspected
66
MEASUREMENTS - Data Last Updated on: 11-18-2015 (11:44 am)
Region
Facilities
Inspections
Facilities Inspected
Percentage Facilities Inspected
1
97
10
10
10%
2
13
6
6
46%
3
341
5
5
1%
4
4
1
1
25%
5
365
33
30
8%
6
8
4
4
50%
7
24
7
6
25%
8
4
0
0
0%
9
15
4
4
27%
TOTAL
871
70
66
8%
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15, 8 percent of industrial WDR facilities were inspected statewide. Although the percentage of facilities inspected varies among the Regional Water Boards, approximately 47 percent of all inspections occurred in the Central Valley Region (Region 5). For compliance purposes, some facilities are inspected more than once a year, which is why the total number of inspections is greater than the total number of facilities inspected.
WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT
It is the Water Boards' policy to ensure that facilities comply with Water Quality Control Plans, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, and waste discharge requirements (WDR). This policy is implemented through the Regional Water Board comprehensive self-monitoring and compliance inspection programs. Inspections are a primary tool used in determining and documenting compliance with WDRs. Inspection frequencies for WDR facilities are based on threats to water quality, with high risk sites and registered complaints receiving more attention. In addition to inspections, the Regional Water Boards assess facility compliance by reviewing self-monitoring reports submitted by the discharger and responding to complaints. The conditions described by self-monitoring data are validated through periodic inspections, which are the Water Boards' only means to evaluate system maintenance and observe unreported activities.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
Unit of Measure: Number of inspections and number of facilities inspected.
Data Definitions: Inspections: include inspections conducted by Regional or State Water Board staff, or US EPA contractors. Facilities Inspected: Count of facilities inspected one or more times during a fiscal year.
Facilities that treat and/or dispose of liquid or semisolid wastes from any servicing, producing, manufacturing or processing operations of whatever nature including mining, gravel washing, geothermal operations, air conditioning, ship building and repairing, oil production, storage and disposal operations, and water well pumping.
Waste Discharge Requirements Program
The Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) Program regulates all point source discharges of waste to land that do not require full containment (which falls under the Land Discharge Program), or are not subject to the NPDES Program.
Inspection (Compliance and Non Compliance)
The Regional Board or State Board may inspect the facilities of any discharger at any time pursuant to Water Code, Section 13267. Compliance activities include all activities necessary to determine if discharges are in compliance with waste discharge requirements, NPDES permits, and related enforcement orders. Compliance inspections are classified as either Level A or Level B, with Level A being more thorough.
