The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2016-17
REGULATE: NPDES STORMWATER
GROUP:
NPDES STORMWATER
MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
MEASURE:
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF FACILITIES INSPECTED
MESSAGE:
In FY 16-17, 14 percent of all municipalities were audited or inspected statewide.
Key Statistics for FY 2016-17
Total Phase I & II
615
Number of Inspections
159
Number of Facilities Inspected
87
MEASUREMENTS
Region
Facilities in Phase I
Inspections
Facilities Inspected
% Facilities Inspected
Facilities in Phase II
Inspections
Facilities Inspected
% Facilities Inspected
1
11
4
3
27%
13
2
2
15%
2
75
56
18
24%
46
10
5
11%
3
2
0
0
0%
54
5
5
9%
4
101
18
17
17%
12
0
0
0%
5
27
0
0
0%
113
1
1
1%
6
4
4
3
75%
8
2
2
25%
7
14
1
1
7%
5
1
1
20%
8
66
9
6
9%
14
1
1
7%
9
41
44
21
51%
9
1
1
11%
TOTAL
341
136
69
20%
274
23
18
7%
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17, the Storm Water Program inspected 14 percent of municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) facilities with 159 inspections performed at 87 facilities. The majority of inspections were performed at large and medium municipality facilities, with 20 percent of these facilities being inspected statewide. 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
Inspections are a primary tool used in determining and documenting compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and waste discharge requirements (WDR), and are the primary tool used in the NPDES Storm Water Program to assess compliance with NPDES requirements. Inspections of large, medium, and small municipality facilities typically involve auditing the treatment process and the systems in place to ensure compliance with permit requirements. As such, inspections of MS4 facilities require a significant amount of time and resources.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Unit of Measure: Number of active MS4 facilities inspected or audited at least once during FY 16-17.
Data Definitions:Inspections: Include inspections and audits conducted by Regional or State Water Board staff, or US EPA. It includes any inspection type.
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.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
The NPDES permit program (CWA Section 402) controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. US EPA has approved the Water Board's program to issue NPDES permits.
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.
Audit (MS4 Program)
An MS4 audit is used to evaluate overall MS4 storm water program implementation, and identify problems the local government may have in implementing the program. MS4 audits involve a comprehensive review of the local government's MS4 storm water program including: a review of the program elements including structural and source control measures, detection and removal of illicit discharges and improper disposal into storm sewers, monitoring and controlling pollutants in storm water discharges, implementing and maintaining structural and nonstructural Best Management Practices (BMPs), verification of implementation schedules, assignment of appropriate individuals, review of the inspection and enforcement program for industrial facilities and construction sites, evaluation of the dry weather screening program, determination of whether controls are in place and are in good working order, and whether facilities have schedules for construction of structural control measures.
