Welcome to the State Water Resources Control Board Welcome to the California Environmental Protection Agency
Governor's Website Visit the Water Board Members Page
Agendas
My Water Quality
Performance Report

The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2009-10

REGULATE: NPDES WASTEWATER

Display a PDF version of this page for easy printing
GROUP: MINOR NPDES FACILITIES
MEASURE: NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF FACILITIES INSPECTED
MESSAGE:   Statewide, the Water Boards have exceeded their goal of inspecting 20% of Minor Facilities.
KEY STATISTICS FOR FY 2009-10
Number of Active Facilities 350
Number of Inspections 133
Number of Facilities Inspected 122

MEASUREMENTS

 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The data shows that two of the Regional Boards inspected every Minor NPDES wastewater facility during fiscal year 2009-2010. Overall 35% of the facilities were inspected. Some facilities are inspected more than once a year, that 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. The Water Board’s Memorandum of Agreement with US EPA specifies that minor facilities be inspected at least once every five years. This translates to 20% of all minor facilities inspected each year.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

GLOSSARY

Minor Facility:
A minor facility is a discharge with a design flow of less than one million gallons per day (MGD) that has not been determined to have an actual or potential adverse environmental impact classifying the discharge as major.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
The NPDES permit program (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act) 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.

( Updated 9/20/11 )

 
 

.