National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticides - Weed Control

On August 24, 2022, the State Water Board’s Executive Director approved an amendment to Water Quality Order 2013-0002-DWQ to add the Central California Irrigation District, Firebaugh Canal Water District, and Henry Miller Reclamation District to Attachment G (List of Public Agencies and Mutual Water Companies Granted an Exception Pursuant to State Water Resources Control Board Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed bays, and Estuaries of California).

• Notice of Opportunity for Public Comments
• Draft Order 2022-XXXX-EXEC Amending Water Quality Order 2013-0002-DWQ (As Amended by 2014-0078-DWQ, 2015-0029-DWQ, 2016-0073-EXEC, 2017-0015-EXEC, and 2020-0037-EXEC)

Section 5.3 of the State Water Board Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (Policy) allows exceptions to meeting priority pollutant criteria/objectives if the State Water Board or Regional Water Quality Control Boards determine the exception to be necessary to implement control measures either:

1. for resource or pest management (i.e., vector or weed control, pest eradication, or fishery management) conducted by public entities or mutual water companies;
2. for drinking water conducted to fulfill statutory requirements under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act or the California Health and Safety Code.

Dischargers do not need a Policy exception to get covered under State Water Board Order 2013-0002-DWQ. However, since the Order allows an exception to receiving water limitations for acrolein and copper, which are the only two priority pollutants regulated by the Order, dischargers may apply for an exception at their discretion. To get an exception, dischargers must submit the following information to the Program Staff Contact listed below: to the address shown in Item 4 above:

1. A detailed description of the proposed action, including the proposed method of completing the action;
2. A time schedule;
3. A discharge and receiving water quality monitoring plan (before project initiation, during the project, and after project completion, with the appropriate quality assurance and quality control procedures);
4. Documentation of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act;
5. Contingency plans;
6. Identification of alternate water supply (if needed); and
7. Residual waste disposal plans.

Upon completion of the project, the discharger shall provide certification by a qualified biologist that the receiving water beneficial uses have been restored.

• Fee Schedule (NPDES Permit Fees)

Please Note: The California Water Code requires the State Water Board to adjust the fees each fiscal year to conform with the revenue levels set forth in the California Budget Act. Thus, the fees could change every year.

Gurgagn Chand
Gurgagn.Chand@waterboards.ca.gov
(916) 341-5780