Colorado River Basin – Storm Water Program
The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the State Board Storm Water Programs (Construction, Industrial and Municipal) and Regional Board permits.
Quick Links
- Overview | MS4 Board Orders | State Board Permits | FAQs | Abandoned Sites | Training & Guidance | State Board Databases
Other Websites | Questions or Comments
Overview
The 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.
This General Permit prohibits the discharge of materials other than storm water and authorized nonstorm water discharges. It is recognized that certain nonstorm water discharges may be necessary for the completion of construction projects. Such discharges include, but are not limited to irrigation of vegetative erosion control measures, pipe flushing and testing, street cleaning, and dewatering. Such discharges are allowed by this General Permit provided they are not relied upon to clean up failed or inadequate construction or post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) designed to keep materials onsite. These authorized nonstorm water discharges shall (1) be infeasible to eliminate, (2) comply with BMPs as described in the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), and (3) not cause or contribute to a violation of water quality standards. Additionally, these discharges may be required to be permitted by the local Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) (e.g., some RWQCBs have adopted General Permits for dewatering discharges). This General Permit is performance-based to the extent that it prohibits the discharge of storm water that causes or threatens to cause pollution, contamination, or nuisance; but it also allows the owner/developer to determine the most economical, effective,and possibly innovative BMPs.
The Industrial Storm Water Program
Dischargers are required to enroll under this NPDES permit that regulates discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities. The General Industrial Permit requires the implementation of management measures that will achieve the performance standard of best available technology economically achievable (BAT) and best conventional pollutant control technology (BCT). The General Industrial Permit also requires the development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a monitoring plan. Through the SWPPP, sources of pollutants are to be identified and the means to manage the sources to reduce storm water pollution are described. The General Industrial Permit requires that an annual report be submitted each July 1. Facility operators may be able to participate in group monitoring program.
The Municipal Phase 1 and 2 Storm Water Programs
Under Phase I, which started in 1990, the RWQCBs have adopted NPDES storm water permits for medium (serving between 100,000 and 250,000 people) and large (serving 250,000 people) municipalities. Most of these permits are issued to a group of co-permittees encompassing an entire metropolitan area. These permits are reissued as the permits expire.
The Regional Water Board has one Phase 1 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit for the Coachella Valley which is listed under the Regional MS4 Board Orders heading. Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Riverside County,Coachella Valley Water District, Cities of Desert Hot Springs, Palm Desert,Banning, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Indio, Rancho Mirage,and La Quinta are enrolled under this permit. Contact information for the permittees can be found at the “Local Agencies and Municipalities Storm Water Contact Information” under the Questions or Comments about the Storm Water Program? heading.
As part of Phase II, the SWRCB adopted a General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small MS4s (WQ Order No. 2003-0005-DWQ) to provide permit coverage for smaller municipalities, including non-traditional Small MS4s, which are governmental facilities such as military bases, public campuses, and prison and hospital complexes.
In addition, the Cities of Imperial and El Centro, Calexico, Brawley and the County of Imperial are enrolled under the State Water Board General Order for Phase II MS4s. Contact information for the enrollees can be found at the “Local Agencies and Municipalities Storm Water Contact Information” under the Questions or Comments about the Storm Water Program? heading.
Information on construction and industrial enrollees and invoices can be found at the “Storm Water Databases” link under the State Board Databases heading. Also, public reports are available through the CIWQS link under the same heading.
Regional MS4 Board Orders
State Board Permits
- Construction Storm Water Program
- Small Linear Project Permit
- Industrial Storm Water Program
- Municipal Storm Water Program
- Phase I SWRCB General Permit Program Information
- Phase II SWRCB General Permit Program Information
- CalTrans Storm Water Program Permit Information
Frequently Asked Storm Water Questions
Information on Abandoned Construction Sites
Training and Guidance
- State Water Board Storm Water Program Training
- Riverside County Flood & Water Conservation Storm Water Training
- California Storm Water Quality Association Training
- Office of Water Programs
- State General Construction Permit Overview Workshop Presentation March 3, 2010
- Example of Rainfall Erosivity Waiver Calculation
State Board Databases
Other Storm Water Websites
- Handbooks on New Development and Redevelopment, Construction, Industrial and Commercial, and Municipal
- USEPA Storm Water Program
- USEPA Construction Storm Water Runoff Best Management Practices
- International Database Storm Water Runoff Best Management Practices
- NPDES Municipal Storm Water Program Website
Questions or Comments about the Storm Water Program?
- Please email John Carmona or phone (760) 340-4521
- For Industrial, Construction and Caltrans Programs
Email Suhas Chakraborty or phone (760) 776-8961 - For MS4 and Construction Programs
Email Suhas Chakraborty or phone (760) 776-8961 or Jay Mirpour phone (760) 776-8981 - For Fee and Invoice Related Questions
Email Maribel Rodriguez or phone (760) 776-8941 - Local Agencies and Municipalities Storm Water Contact Information
