The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2016-17

ENFORCE: NPDES STORM WATER

GROUP:

ALL NPDES STORM WATER FACILITIES

MEASURE: VIOLATION TRENDS. TOTAL BY YEAR

MESSAGE:

After several years of increase in the number of violations, there was a decrease overall in 2016. Region 4 (Los Angeles), Region 5 (Central Valley), and Region 8 (Santa Ana) account for 80% of storm water violations

*KEY STATISTICS FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2014- 2016*
Total Number of Violations in 2016:	2,596
Total Number of Violations in 2015:	3,078
Total Number of Violations in 2014:	2,655

MEASUREMENTS - Data last updated on: May 29, 2018

Regional Offices	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	Regional Office Total
1	57	55	49	89	12	6	5	87	101	77	67	43	91	59	79	65	14	956
2	131	12	98	65	5	7	6	299	263	195	87	175	88	371	59	260	36	2,157
3	19	29	94	30	201	457	64	59	246	71	43	107	41	80	18	93	92	1,744
4	243	1,197	1,155	728	525	306	235	176	1,293	804	277	816	478	680	911	608	628	11,060
5F	13	5	6	9	105	300	241	13	170	10	4	60	251	234	182	153	28	1,784
5R	63	20	128	28	151	46	39	71	71	67	23	39	44	32	28	56	68	974
5S	180	45	58	211	403	516	547	377	384	695	433	573	520	507	578	568	411	7,006
6A	4	13	34	28	58	36	58	9	9	18	13	42	8	19	28	83	53	513
6B	38	32	10	1	0	2	7	9	30	5	65	87	61	22	6	278	166	819
7	50	11	21	0	50	2	1	41	34	38	9	29	108	23	0	51	33	501
8	553	758	390	268	269	619	335	441	359	350	646	483	813	582	564	610	897	8,937
9	148	287	534	349	336	144	140	202	202	82	102	87	111	137	202	253	170	3,486
TOTAL	1,499	2,464	2,577	1,806	2,115	2,441	1,678	1,784	3,162	2,412	1,769	2,541	2,614	2,746	2,655	3,078	2,596	37,341

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 five years, although there are variations between Regional Boards.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Violations are detected through reviewing of self monitoring reports, 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 November 8, 2017.
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: 11/14/17 )