The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - 2012

REGULATE:NPDES WASTEWATER

 
GROUP: WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS WASTEWATER
MEASURE: INSPECTION TRENDS
MESSAGE:  Downward trend in the number of inspections conducted in the Waste Discharge Requirements program.

 

MEASUREMENTS 

WDR Large Municipal

Region 2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
Grand
Total

WDR Small Municipal

Region 2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
Grand
Total

WDR Industrial Facilities

Region 2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
Grand
Total

WDR All Other

Region 2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
Grand
Total

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The data show a downward trend in the number of inspections conducted since Fiscal year 2000-2001.  This downward trend is not equal in every region. 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. Because of their size, major facilities represent a higher threat to water quality and receive a higher degree of compliance assurance activities. Recent revisions to the Water Board’s Memorandum of Agreement with US EPA specifies that major facilities be inspected at least once every two years or annually if violations are detected.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

GLOSSARY

Large Municipal Facilities

Facilities discharging municipal waste serving a population equivalent to 1,000 people and with a design flow of greater than 100,000 gallons a day. This group only includes those facilities regulated with individual Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR).

Industrial Stormwater Program
Discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities are regulated under the Industrial Storm Water General Permit Order 97-03-DWQ (General Industrial Permit), which is an NPDES permit.

Small Municipal and Domestic Waste Facilities
Facilities discharging municipal waste serving a population equivalent to less than 1,000 people and with a design flow less than 100,000 gallons a day. Small municipal waste facilities are typically regulated under a general order and may include facilities discharging to subsurface systems such as septic tanks and leach fields or small wastewater package plants.

Industrial Sources
Facilities that treat and/or dispose of liquid or semisolid wastes from any servicing, producing, manufacturing or processing operations of whatever nature including mining, gravel washing, geothermal operations, air conditioning, ship building and repairing, oil production, storage and disposal operations, and water well pumping.

Agricultural Waste
 
Facilities that treat and/or dispose of the wastes associated with confined and concentrated animal feeding, confined animal feeding, confined animal holding, and confined and concentrated aquatic animal production facilities, and aquaculture. The treatment and/or disposal of agricultural return water is included in this category.

All other Facilities
All facilities that treat and/or dispose of wastes that do not fall into one of the Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural Waste categories.

Municipal Sources
Facilities that treat sewage or a mixture of predominantly sewage and other waste from districts, municipalities, communities, hospitals, schools, and publicly or privately owned systems (excluding individual surface leaching systems disposing of less than 1,000 gallons per day).

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.
 

 

( Page last updated:  6/18/12 )