The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2011-12

MEASUREMENTS  - Data last updated on: 

Click on a bar in the charts below, to show details for that region (third chart below).

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The trends in the number of violations recorded in the databases remained fairly stable over the last past ten years. There are significant differences by regional board office that may be due to differences in data entry procedures more that changes in numbers of violations.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Violations are detected through reviewing of self monitoring reports, inspections and complaints. The enforcement policy requires that the Water Boards ensure that all violations are documented in the appropriate Water Board data management system. According to the enforcement policy all violations will be entered within 10 days of discovery of the violation. Identification and documentation of violations is important to ensure that water quality is protected and that serious violations and those high priority violations receive an adequate enforcement response. Tracking violations and compliance rates over time is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the Water Boards enforcement policies and actions.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data Source: SMARTS. Extracted on:
• Unit of Measure: Violations documented.
• Data Definitions: Violations with status "violation".
• References: Information on the Water Boards' NPDES Stormwater Program
  Public Reports and Data
  Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Information
  The Water Boards' Enforcement Policy

GLOSSARY

Construction Stormwater Program

Dischargers whose projects disturb 1 or more acres of soil or are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs 1 or more acres, are required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity (Construction General Permit, 2000-0009-DWQ).

Industrial Stormwater Program

Discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities are regulated under the Industrial Storm Water General Permit Order 97-03-DWQ (General Industrial Permit), which is an NPDES permit.

Municipal Stormwater Phase I Facilities

The Municipal Storm Water Permits regulate storm water discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). Under Phase I, which began in 1990, the Regional Water Boards have issued NPDES MS4 permits to permittees serving populations greater than 100,000 people. Many of these permits are issued to a group of co-permittees encompassing an entire metropolitan area. These permits are reissued as the permits expire.

Municipal Stormwater Phase II Facilities

Under Phase II, the State Water Board adopted a General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small MS4s (WQ Order No. 2003-0005-DWQ) to provide permit coverage for smaller municipalities (10,000 to 100,000 people), including non-traditional small MS4s which are governmental facilities such as military bases, public campuses, prisons and hospital complexes.

( Page last updated:  9/18/12 )