Waste Discharge Requirements Program
Waste discharges that can be exempted from the California Code of Regulations (CCR) requirements are issued waste discharge requirements (WDRs) and are regulated by the WDR Program. Typical discharge types includes domestic or municipal wastewater, food processing related wastewater, and industrial wastewater.
State regulations addressing the treatment, storage, processing, or disposal of waste are contained in Title 27, CCR, section 20005 et seq. (hereafter Title 27). Discharges that qualify for exemption from Title 27 must be consistent with the exemptions provided in Title 27 section 20090.
General Information
April 4, 2023, The draft Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Policy renewal documents released in response to public comment and can be found on the OWTS program webpage .
Core regulatory programs in the WDR Program include the following:
- Agriculture - Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
- Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
- Biosolids
- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)
- Discharge of treated groundwater from groundwater cleanup operations (SCP)
- General Waste Discharge Requirements for Aggregate and/or Concrete Facilities (Aggregate and Concrete Order)
- General Waste Discharge Requirements For Discharges To Land With A Low Threat To Water Quality
- General Waste Discharge Requirements for Natural Gas Utility Construction, Operations, and Maintenance Activities
- General Waste Discharge Requirements for Small Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems
- General Waste Discharge Requirements for Winery Process Water (Winery Order)
- Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)
- Recycled Water Use
- Sanitary Sewer Overflows
- Timber Harvest (Nonpoint Source Program)
If your activities, discharges, or proposed activities or discharges from your property or business could affect California's surface, coastal, or ground waters, in most cases you will need to apply for a permit from the appropriate Regional Water Quality Control Board.
- Waste Discharge Requirements Application Form
Subscribe to our Email Lists
References
- California Water Code: Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
- California Code of Regulations
- Discharges of Wastes to Land
- Designated Waste Regulations (defined in CWC Section 13173)
- Title 27 Exemptions
- Recyled Water-Related Statutes and Regulations
- Fees
