California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) Project and Electronic Self-Monitoring and Reporting (eSMR) Program

The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the State Board California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) project and electronic Self-Monitoring and Reporting (eSMR) Program. eSMR is a module of the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) database that allows on-line submission of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program self-monitoring reports by dischargers.

Quick Links

CIWQS Program Overview  |  CIWQS Help Center  |  Additional Data Reporting Information  |  NPDES Permits  |  INPDES Resources (State and Regional Water Boards)  |  Other Helpful Links for NPDES Program  | Public Reports on NPDES Permits  | Questions or Comments

CIWQS Program Overview

The California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) is a computer system used by the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards to track information about places of environmental interest, manage permits and other orders, track inspections, and manage violations and enforcement activities. CIWQS also allows online submittal of information by Permittees within certain programs and makes data available to the public through reports.

Currently, individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holders and enrollees under the statewide general sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) order may be able to submit information to CIWQS. In order to submit information to the Water Boards via CIWQS, users must register for an account.

All individual NPDES major and minor dischargers are submitting eSMRs to CIWQS.

CIWQS Help Center

The following hyperlinks provide information on CIWQS and provide resources to assist in submitting eSMRs.

  • CIWQS User Guide
    Discharger User Guide for submitting eSMRs.
  • Training Courses for eSMR
    These lessons provide step-by-step instructions for submitting eSMRs. Lessons contain audio, video, and a brief printable summary for each section of the report.
  • CIWQS Help Center
    This web page supports the NPDES program; it provides information on frequently asked questions, registration forms, presentations and helpful information and tools for eSMR.
  • Registration Form for Legally Responsible Official
  • Registration Form for Data Submitter
  • CIWQS Pet Tools
    The PET Tool is a Microsoft Excel file that allows you to configure your data into a format that CIWQS will understand and interpret correctly, which is the CIWQS Data Format, or CDF. You can open the PET Tool in Excel, configure it on the basis of your permit requirements, and then use the configured file as a template for entering monitoring data on a monthly basis.

    Important Note: The Tools require that macros be enabled.

    On this page you will find what you need to install for first time users (CIWQS Data Format Installer) as well as an updated Blank PET tool for current users.

    If you need assistance with updating your template please email us your existing template.
  • Sign Up for SMR Reminders
    This program will send auto-generated email reminders. An email will be sent towards the beginning of the year listing reports due that year and 45 days prior to the due date of each report.

    Facilities submitting SMRs via eSMR do not need to use this form. Email notifications will be sent to the Legally Responsible Officials and Data Submitters associated to the facility.

    This program is voluntary. Failure to receive the reminder emails does not relieve Permittees of their requirements to submit SMRs.

    Please contact the CIWQS Help Center with questions regarding this program.

    Phone: 866-79-CIWQS (24977)  |  Email: ciwqs@waterboards.ca.gov
  • CIWQS Support for the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Program
    State Water Board General Order 2006-0003-DWQ requires operators of most sanitary sewer collection systems to report spill occurrences to their regional board using CIWQS. They must also maintain an up-to-date questionnaire about their collection systems and certify that their management plan is appropriate, current, and fully implemented. All of this must be done using CIWQS.

Additional Data Reporting Information

NPDES Permit

The State and Regional Water Board has several NPDES General Permits, the following information provides you to links to these General Orders specific to this Region as well as our Regional Board Individual Permits:

NPDES Resources (State and Regional Water Boards)

The following information provides links for the NPDES Program from the State and Regional Water Boards.

  • State Water Board NPDES Program Web Page
    The State Water Board provides general information and resources on the NPDES program.
  • Compilation of Water Quality Goals
    This searchable database contains an extensive compendium of numeric water quality thresholds from the literature for over 860 chemical constituents and water quality parameters.
  • Region Water Board Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
    This Basin Plan is intended to provide definitive guidelines, and give direction to the full scope of Regional Board activities that serve to optimize the beneficial uses of the state waters within the Colorado River Basin Region of California by preserving and protecting the quality of these waters.
  • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and 303(d) List of Impaired Water Bodies
    The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Unit in the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board 7 or Region 7) manages the regional TMDL Program. The TMDL Program updates Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 303(d) List of impaired surface waters in need of TMDLs, and develops and implements priority TMDLs throughout the Region.
  • Regional Water Board Pretreatment Program Web Page
    The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the Federal, State and Regional Water Board Pretreatment Program.
  • Regional Water Board CAFO Program Web Page
    The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the State and Regional Water Board CAFO Programs and Regional Water Board General CAFO Permit.
  • Regional Water Board Storm Water Program Web Page
    The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the State Board Storm Water Programs (Construction, Industrial and Municipal) and Regional Board permits.
  • Sanitary Sewer Overflow Program
    The Colorado River Basin Region (Regional Water Board) developed this web page to provide information on the State Water Board Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Program and Permit.

Other Helpful Links for NPDES Program

The following information provides links to Office of Operator Certification, State of California Department of Public Health for Certified Laboratories and State and Federal Statutes and Regulations.

  • Office of Operator Certification
    The State Water Board established the Office of Operator Certification in the Division of Financial Assistance to ensure that operators of wastewater treatment facilities in the State meet the minimum level of competence; thereby, protecting the public health and the environment.
  • California Department of Public Health Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
    ELAP provides evaluation and accreditation of environmental testing laboratories to ensure the quality of analytical data used for regulatory purposes to meet the requirements of the State's drinking water, wastewater, shellfish, food, and hazardous waste programs. The State agencies which monitor the environment use the analytical data from these accredited laboratories. The ELAP-accredited laboratories have demonstrated capability to analyze environmental samples using approved methods.
  • 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 136 (40CFR136)
    40 CFR 136 provides guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants.
  • State Water Board Laws and Regulations
    The State Water Board maintains compilations of various laws relevant to different areas of the water boards’ responsibilities; you should consult the official version of the California Code or the United States Code if in doubt.
  • Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act
    Excerpts of California Water Code, Division 7 (Water Quality)

Public Reports on NPDES Permits

The following links provide public information through the State Water Board Databases.

Questions or Comments

State Water Board Contact Information:

General CIWQS Inquires: Jarma Bennett
Phone number (916)-341-5532

Questions or Comments on State NPDES Programs

State Water Fee Branch Questions

Regional Water Board Contact Information:

For eSMR Submittals and Report Withdrawals
Email Jose Figueroa-Acevedo or phone (760) 352-1464

For Fee and Invoice Related Questions
Email Maribel Rodriguez or phone (760) 776-8941

Additional Regional Water Board Contact Information