General Waste Discharge Requirements for the Public Display of Fireworks in the San Diego Region

Regulation of Fireworks Events Held Over Surface Waters in the San Diego Region

The San Diego Water Board reissued a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharges to surface waters in the San Diego Region from the public display of fireworks (Order No. R9-2022-0002). The general NPDES permit regulates fireworks displays over any surface water body within the boundaries of the San Diego Region, including all ocean waters, bays, estuaries, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes. The permit requirements balance the importance of public displays of fireworks as part of our national and community celebrations and the need to prevent degradation of aquatic resources from the fallout of firework debris. The objective of the general permit is to protect public health and aquatic resources by prescribing reasonable management measures to prevent and reduce pollution that results from firework displays.

The general NPDES permit holds persons sponsoring the fireworks event (hosts) accountable by requiring them to conduct a post-event inspection that involves, to the extent practical, the collection, removal, and disposal of the fireworks debris generated to affected receiving waters. The fireworks event host is also required to certify the management measures that were implemented throughout and following each fireworks event.

Coverage under the general NPDES permit enables fireworks event hosts to lawfully discharge fireworks pollutants to surface waters in accordance with the terms of federal and state water pollution laws. To receive coverage under the general NPDES permit, fireworks event hosts must submit an application package that includes the following:

The items above must be approved by the San Diego Water Board.

Dischargers enrolled under Order No. R9-2011-0022 will have coverage until May 31, 2023, and are required to submitted an application for Order No. R9-2022-0002 for continued coverage. The San Diego Water Board has approved the following fireworks events in San Diego Region under Order No. R9‑2022-0002:

Applicant/Discharger

Event Location

Expected Event Date(s)

Application Approved on

Lake Murray Fireworks Lake Murray
July 4, Annually June 30, 2022
Beach DMC Oceanside Pier August 25, 2022 August 19,2022
Integral Communities Offshore of Salt Creek Beach September 6, 2022 August 19,2022
22nd District Agricultural Association Del Mar Fairgrounds July 4, Annually October 21, 2022
City of Laguna Niguel Laguna Niguel Lake July 4, Annually February 23, 2023
City of Dana Point Offshore of Doheny State Beach July 4, Annually February 23, 2023
City of Laguna Beach Heisler Park July 4, Annually March 15, 2023
Emerald Bay Service District Offshore of Emerald Bay July 4, Annually March 15, 2023

YMCA Armed Services (Big Bay Boom)

For a copy of this document, please contact Mr. James Chhor

North San Diego Bay July 4, Annually April 13, 2023
SeaWorld San Diego Mission Bay Multiple Events Annually May 2, 2023
Marine Corps Community Services
Jetty off Del Mar Beach July 4, Annually May 26, 2023
USS Midway Museum
Bow of the USS Midway Museum Five Events Quarterly June 7, 2023
City of Imperial Beach Imperial Beach Pier July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
City of San Clemente San Clemente Pier July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
City of San Marcos Bradley Park July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
City of Vista Brengle Terrace Park July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
Coronado Fourth of July Glorietta Bay July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
Destination Concepts USS Midway Museum Two Events Annually June 28, 2023
Irvine Cove Joint Committee Cameo Cove July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
Mission Bay Yacht Club Mission Bay July 4, Annually June 28, 2023
Three Arch Bay Mussel Cove July 4, Annually June 28, 2023

To request the application package or any information regarding these fireworks events, please contact James.Chhor@waterboards.ca.gov.

Order No. R9-2022-0002 (Adopted 2/9/2022)

Contacts