The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2016-17
REGULATE: WASTE DISCHARGES TO LAND - ALL OTHER INSPECTIONS WDR
GROUP:
ALL OTHER WASTE WASTE DISCHARGE TO LAND-WDR FACILITIES
MEASURE:
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF FACILITIES INSPECTED
MESSAGE:
In FY16-17, 7 percent of industrial facilities regulated under individual WDRs were inspected statewide.
Key Statistics for FY 2016-17
Number of Active Facilities
2,042
Number of Inspections
165
Number of Facilities Inspected
146
MEASUREMENTS - Data Last Updated on February 22, 2017
Region
Facilities
Inspections
Facilities Inspected
Percentage Facilities Inspected
1
101
12
7
7%
2
77
2
2
3%
3
304
11
11
4%
4
411
24
23
6%
5
612
53
44
7%
6
158
11
11
7%
7
229
47
43
19%
8
21
2
2
10%
9
129
3
3
2%
TOTAL
2,042
165
146
7%
WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17, 7 percent of facilities were inspected statewide. Although the percentage of facilities inspected varies among the Regional Water Boards, 61 percent of all inspections occurred in the Central Valley Region (Region 5) and Colorado River Basin Region (Region 7). 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, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Extracted on October 13, 2017.
Unit of Measure: Number of inspections and number of facilities inspected during FY 16-17.
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.
All facilities that treat and/or dispose of wastes that do not fall into one of the Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural Waste categories. It does not include Dairies or other Confined Animal facilities.
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.
