The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2013-14

REGULATE: NPDES WASTEWATER

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.

MEASUREMENTS - Data Last Updated on:

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WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

Overall 34% of the Minor Wastewater NPDES 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. All regions, with the exception of R5, inspected more than 20% of the minor individually regulated facilities in FY 2013-14.

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 dischargers generally will be inspected once a year, as resources allow, but not less than once during a permit cycle. This translates to 20% of all minor facilities inspected each year. It is the policy of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to ensure compliance with Water Quality Control Plans, NPDES permits, and Waste Discharge Requirements through Regional Board implementation of a comprehensive self-monitoring and compliance inspection program.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.
Unit of Measure: Number of facilities inspected annually, including all inspection types, during FY 13-14.
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.
References: Information on the Water Boards' NPDES program
Public Reports and Data
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Information

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.

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.

( Page last updated: 11/4/14 )