California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2022-23 

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Data Source: SMARTS. Period July 1,  2022 to June 30,  2023.
  • Unit of Measure: Number of facilities inspected at least once during the fiscal year.
  • Data Definitions: Inspections: include inspections conducted by Regional or State Water Board staff, or US EPA. It includes any inspection type. Facilities: Include any facility enrolled under the storm water program that was active at least one day during the Fiscal Year. Facilities Inspected: Count of facilities inspected one or more times during a fiscal year.
  • References:

GLOSSARY

Construction Storm Water 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, 2009-0009-DWQ).

Industrial Storm Water Program
Discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities are regulated under the Industrial Storm Water General Permit Order 2014-0057-DWQ (General Industrial Permit), which is an NPDES permit.

Municipal Storm Water 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 Storm Water 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. 2013-0001-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.

General Permit
An NPDES permit issued under 40 CFR 122.28 that authorizes a category of discharges under the Clean Water Act (CWA) within a geographical area. A general permit is not specifically tailored for an individual discharger.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
The NPDES permit program (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act) controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. US EPA has approved the Water Board's program to issue NPDES permits.

Facilities
Include any construction facility enrolled under the storm water construction program that was active at least one day during the fiscal year.

Inspection
Inspections conducted by Regional or State Water Board staff, or US EPA. Inspection types include A Type and B Type Compliance, Complaint, Enforcement Follow-up, Inspection from Vehicle, No-Exposure Certification (NEC), Notice of Termination (NOT), NonFiler/Notice of Non-Applicability (NONA), and Non-compliance Follow-up.

Audit (MS4 Program)
An MS4 audit is used to evaluate overall MS4 storm water program implementation, and identify problems the local government may have in implementing the program. MS4 audits involve a comprehensive review of the local government's MS4 storm water program including: a review of the program elements including structural and source control measures, detection and removal of illicit discharges and improper disposal into storm sewers, monitoring and controlling pollutants in storm water discharges, implementing and maintaining structural and nonstructural Best Management Practices (BMPs), verification of implementation schedules, assignment of appropriate individuals, review of the inspection and enforcement program for industrial facilities and construction sites, evaluation of the dry weather screening program, determination of whether controls are in place and are in good working order, and whether facilities have schedules for construction of structural control measures.