The Storm Water Program in the
Los Angeles Region
Storm water is defined by US EPA as the runoff generated when precipitation from rain and snowmelt events flows over land or impervious surfaces without percolating into the ground. As it flows, storm water runoff collects and transports pollutants to surface waters. Some of these pollutants are visible such as sediment, motor oil and trash, as well as pollutants that are not easily visible such as dissolved metals, nutrients, oxygen demanding substances, and organic chemicals.
Although the amount of pollutants from a single residential, commercial, industrial or construction site may seem unimportant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, rivers, wetlands and other water bodies. Pollution conveyed by storm water degrades the quality of drinking water, damages fisheries and habitat of plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival. Pollutants carried by storm water can also affect recreational uses of water bodies by making them unsafe for wading, swimming, boating and fishing. In most cases, storm water flows directly to water bodies through separate storm sewer systems, contributing a major source of pollution to rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Storm water discharges in California are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. However, storm water may also act as a resource and recharge groundwater when properly managed. The Water Boards are actively involved in initiatives to improve the management of storm water as a resource.
In the Los Angeles region, the storm water program is a comprehensive program to manage the quality of discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer system in the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles, and Ventura counties, the discharges from the 10 categories of industries listed in the Federal Regulations (40 CFR 122.26), and the discharges from construction sites with land disturbance of 1 acre or more.
- Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can promote the overgrowth of algae, deplete oxygen in the waterway and be harmful to other aquatic life.
- Bacteria from animal wastes and illicit connections to storm sewer systems can make nearby lakes and bays unsafe for wading, swimming and the propagation of edible shellfish.
- Oil and grease from automobiles causes sheen and odor and makes transfer of oxygen difficult for aquatic organisms.
- Sediment from construction activities clouds waterways and interferes with the habitat of living things that depend upon those waters.
- Careless application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers affect the health of living organisms and cause ecosystem imbalances.
- Litter damages aquatic life, introduces chemical pollution, and diminishes the beauty of our waterways.
- Heavy metals and organic chemicals from industrial facilities can cause toxicity in the aquatic life that use our waterways.
Recent News:
- Renewal of the Industrial General Permit is underway - the public comment period was extended for the proposed Industrial General Permit amendment.
- Proposed Industrial General Permit Amendment. Link to Proposed Amendment
- The deadline to submit the Annual Report for the Industrial General Permit is July 15. Guide for Submittal
- The deadline to submit the Annual Report for the Construction General Permit is September 1.
- The annual fee for a No Exposure Certification is $150.
- The deadline to recertify No Exposure Certifications is October 1. Guide for recertification
STORM WATER PROGRAM CONTACTS:
- Report a Non-Filer - let us know if a business or construction site does not have a Storm Water Permit
- Industrial Storm Water and Construction Storm Water Programs - Hugh Marley
- Enforcement of the Industrial and Construction Storm Water Programs - Pavlova Vitale
- Municipal Storm Water Program - Ivar Ridgeway
- Enforcement of the Industrial General Permit:
Supervisor: Pavlova Vitale (213) 576-6751 - No Exposure Certifications and Recertifications:
Francisco Pineda, (213) 576-6722 - Level 1 ERA Reports:
Ashley Olmeda, (213) 620-6190
Francisco Pineda, (213) 576-6722 - Level 2 ERA Reports:
Enrique Loera, (213) 620-2111r
Joseph Guzman, (213) 620-2122 - Annual Reports:
Enrique Loera, (213) 620-2111 - Trouble shooting log-in issues with the SMARTS database:
stormwater@waterboards.ca.gov - Ad Hoc Reports:
Francisco Pineda, (213) 576-6722 - Any Other Inquiries:
Younga Choi, (213) 620-6363