California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report
Fiscal Year 2025-26
What We Do and How We are Doing
THE WATER BOARDS ENFORCE
The Water Boards enforce the pollution control and cleanup requirements that are established for discharges and contaminated sites. Where violations of regulatory requirements are detected, enforcement actions of varying types and levels of stringency are taken. For the most serious violations, penalties are often imposed. The Water Boards also collaborate with federal, State, and local law enforcement, as well as other environmental agencies, to address violations. In all cases, the principal goal of enforcement is to encourage compliance with requirements so that water quality is protected.
More information on the FY 2025-26 target results and FY 2026-27 targets.
Fiscal Year 2025/26
Statewide Overview of
Enforcement Actions and Penalties
Informal Enforcement Actions: 11,521
Compliance and Penalty Enforcement actions: 1,499
Penalties Assessed: Approximately $21.9 million
| Enforcement Actions |
Penalties Assessed |
|
| NPDES Wastewater: | 257 | $5,801,526 |
| NPDES Stormwater: | 11,996 | $5,782,349 |
| Waste Discharge to Land: | 253 | $36,390 |
| Land Disposal: | 44 | $0 |
| Cannabis: | 232 | $709,907 |
| All Other Programs: | 238 | $9,449,280 |
Data Reported
Wastewater
- Enforcement Actions: Summaries
- Enforcement Response: Trends
- Violations (NPDES Wastewater and NPDES Stormwater): Trends | Per Facility
NPDES Mandatory Minimum Penalties (MMPs)
Penalties Summary
Take Enforcement Actions to Achieve Compliance
How do we address violations?
When assessing compliance with waste discharge and other requirements, the Water Boards document and track violations of the requirements in the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) database. Where violations occur, the Water Boards are responsible for taking swift and fair enforcement actions. The Water Boards' approach to enforcement for water quality protection is outlined in the State Water Board' Water Quality Enforcement Policy. This policy describes the framework for identifying and investigating instances of noncompliance, for taking enforcement actions that are appropriate in relation to the nature and severity of the violation, and for prioritizing enforcement resources to achieve maximum environmental benefit.
