The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2015-16
REGULATE: NPDES STORMWATER FACILITIES
GROUP:
NPDES STORMWATER FACILITIES
MEASURE:
STORMWATER FACILITIES BY TYPE
MESSAGE:
The Storm Water Program actions largely focus on construction and industrial activities.
Key Statistics for FY 2015-16
Number of Construction Facilities
9,217
Number of Industrial Facilities:
9,246
Number of Municipal-MS4
340
MEASUREMENTS - Data Last Updated on: October 19, 2015
Regional
Offices
Construction
Industrial
Municipal
Total
1
239
347
3
589
2
1,449
1,341
83
2,873
3
654
453
2
1,109
4
1,520
2,642
101
4,263
5F
785
442
7
1,234
5R
171
204
0
375
5S
1,115
1,084
21
2,220
5 all.
2,071
1,730
28
3,829
6A
92
33
3
128
6B
310
190
2
502
6 all.
402
223
5
630
7
276
172
13
461
8
1,461
1,564
63
3,088
9
1,145
774
42
1,961
TOTAL
9,217
9,246
340
18,803
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15, the Storm Water Program regulated 9,217 construction facilities, 9,246 industrial facilities, and 340 municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) facilities. These facilities are concentrated in the large urbanized areas with the majority of facilities located in the San Francisco Bay Region (Region 2), the Los Angeles Region (Region 4), the Central Valley Region (Region 5), and San Ana Region (Region 8).
WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT
The Construction Storm Water Program is unique in that the industrial activity (i.e., construction and land disturbance) is temporary in nature. This program is highly dynamic, receiving many new applications under the construction general order every year. As construction activities begin, construction projects must enroll under the general order, and when construction activities are completed, enrollees must submit a notice of termination. Due to the high turnover of construction projects, the processing of all new applications and permit rescissions represent a significant portion of the program's workload.
The Industrial Storm Water Program regulates a large number of facilities statewide, and although the program's activity is not as temporary in nature as the Construction Storm Water Program, the industrial program requires frequent verification that facilities (both new and previously enrolled) are in compliance with NPDES storm water regulations. Non-municipal, or industrial sources, often generate wastewater that is discharged to surface waters. The types of wastewater generated at a facility depend on the specific activities undertaken and may include manufacturing or process wastewaters, cooling waters, sanitary wastewater, and storm water runoff. The Industrial Storm Water Program is highly dynamic and many new applications are received each year. Processing new applications and rescinding existing permits requires a significant amount of time and resources, and is considered a good indicator of overall program performance.
MS4 Permits require the discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan/Program with the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP; the performance standard specified in Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act [CWA]). The Municipal Storm Water Permitting Program management programs specify what best management practices (BMPs) will be used to address certain program areas. The program areas include public education and outreach; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction and post-construction; and good housekeeping for municipal operations. In general, medium and large municipalities are required to conduct chemical monitoring, though small municipalities are not.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Data Source: Stormwater Multi-Application, Reporting, and Tracking System (SMARTS).
Unit of Measure: Number of facilities discharging under an active storm water NPDES general permit.
Dischargers whose projects disturb 1 or more acres of soil or are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs 1 or more acres, are required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity (Construction General Permit, 2009-0009-DWQ).
Industrial Storm Water Program
Discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities are regulated under the Industrial Storm Water General Permit Order 2014-0057-DWQ (General Industrial Permit), which is an NPDES permit.
Municipal Storm Water Phase I Facilities
The Municipal Storm Water Permits regulate storm water discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). Under Phase I, which began in 1990, the Regional Water Boards have issued NPDES MS4 permits to permittees serving populations greater than 100,000 people. Many of these permits are issued to a group of co-permittees encompassing an entire metropolitan area. These permits are reissued as the permits expire.
Municipal Storm Water Phase II Facilities
Under Phase II, the State Water Board adopted a General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small MS4s (WQ Order No. 2013-0001-DWQ) to provide permit coverage for smaller municipalities (10,000 to 100,000 people), including non-traditional small MS4s which are governmental facilities such as military bases, public campuses, prisons and hospital complexes.
