San Diego Region – Waste Discharge Requirement Program

The Site Restoration and Groundwater Protection Branch is an integral part of the Programs regulating discharges of treated wastewater (recycled water) and wastewater subsurface disposal (septic) systems, and other waste discharges to land overseen by the San Diego Water Board. The Groundwater Sustainability and Protection Units is responsible for a large portion of the following programs:

1. Subsurface Disposal or Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) - Regulation of point source waste discharges from septic systems and sewage treatment / disposal systems discharging to land, which could impact ground waters (WDR program).
   
   
   • County of San Diego Local Agency Management Program for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
   • County of Riverside Local Agency Management Program for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
   • Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy)
   • General Waste Discharge Requirements for Small Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems
     

2. Recycled Water - Production, purveyance, and use of recycled water within the Region pursuant to California Water Code [section 13520 et seq.], the San Diego Regional Board Basin Plan, and California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4 [Title 22]. The San Diego Water Board has endorsed guidelines to assist regional water purveyors and stakeholders with the preparation of Salt and Nutrient Management Plans in the San Diego Region.
   
   
   • The State Water Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) Guidelines for Use of Recycled Water, Guidelines for Use of Recycled Water for Construction
   • American Water Works Association (AWWA) California/Nevada Section, Guidelines for the Distribution of Non-Potable Water and Guidelines for Retrofitting to Recycled Water
     
     
3. Waste Discharges to Land – Regulation of discharges of waste to land that have the potential to pose a threat to both groundwater and surface waters. This includes discharges from wineries, dairies, confined animal feeding operations, and aggregate operations.

• General Waste Discharge Requirements for Aggregate and/or Concrete Facilities (Aggregate and Concrete Order)
• General Waste Discharge Requirements for Winery Process Water (Winery Order)
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

In addition to working cooperatively with the regulated community, staff in the Groundwater Sustainability and Protection Unit work closely with other regulatory agencies including the USEPA, local Health Departments, and the State Water Board Division of Drinking Water.

The San Diego Water Board issues Orders (Permits and Enforcement) to facilities that are regulated by the Recycled Water and Subsurface Disposal Programs. Orders are available from the San Diego Water Board web page [Adopted Orders].

Current information regarding facilities regulated by the Core Regulatory Units is maintained in the on-line California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) database.

Report of Waste Discharge

California Water Code (CWC) Section 13260 requires that a Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) be submitted by any person discharging or proposing to discharge waste that could affect the quality of the waters of the state. The ROWD is used to develop waste discharge requirements for adoption by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region (San Diego Water Board) in accordance with CWC Sections 13263. The ROWD must therefore provide enough technical information for the San Diego Water Board staff to develop tentative Order that includes draft Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) for the proposed discharge.