Office of Enforcement

The Office of Enforcement was created in 2006 to emphasize enforcement as a key component of the Water Board's water quality regulatory functions and statutory responsibilities.

Since 2006, the enforcement support that the office provides has expanded beyond Water Quality to encompass all the Water Boards' program areas. Our role is to ensure that violations of orders and permits result in firm, fair, and consistent enforcement through direct actions, the development of policies and guidance, and the identification of metrics for decision-making on enforcement issues.

We are comprised of legal and investigative staff. The attorneys represent enforcement staff in the State and Regional Water Board programs in pursing enforcement where appropriate. Specifically, our attorneys assist in the development of enforcement strategies, triaging potential enforcement cases, and bringing formal enforcement actions (such as administrative liability actions) before the Water Boards for consideration. In addition, the Office of Enforcement attorneys often function as liaisons to outside prosecutors, whether it is to refer cases to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution or to coordinate with actions being brought by other local and state agencies.

The investigative staff in the Office of Enforcement is divided into multiple units that provide technical and enforcement expertise to support investigations across a broad range of Water Board programs. The Office of Enforcement includes the Cannabis Enforcement Unit (CEU); Special Investigation Unit (SIU); the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Enforcement Unit; and the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention Unit (FWA).

  New! 2024 Water Quality Enforcement Policy.

If you have an environmental complaint anywhere in the state that you would like the Water Boards’ Office of Enforcement, or another agency to investigate, please submit it through the CalEPA complaint system website using the green CalEPA “Report an environmental Concern” button below.

Simply select the type of problem you’re reporting, complete the form with as many details as you know, including photos and video, and click “Submit.” Your complaint will be sent to the appropriate state or local agencies, depending on your location and the type of environmental problem you select. CalEPA’s boards and departments work with more than 400 local agencies that enforce environmental laws. This CalEPA complaint system website saves you the trouble of having to find out which agency is the appropriate one.

Please provide your email address when completing the form so we can update you about the status of your complaint. For more information about what happens to your complaint, please visit CalEPA’s FAQs.

If you think someone is committing fraud, misusing UST Cleanup Fund monies, or intentionally misrepresenting data, it is important to let us know. All allegations of potential fraud are taken seriously, and you can remain anonymous.

• Visit our "Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention" page to learn - How to Report Fraud