In California, New Water Quality Regulations (Today's Facility Manager)

By David Metres and Don Sobelman

California water regulators recently proposed a new set of permitting requirements for stormwater discharges that would reset 16 years of established practice for many businesses, including some businesses never before subject to such regulation. The State Board expects final adoption of the Industrial General Permit to occur in early 2014, with implementation occurring on January 1, 2015.

 

The New Stormwater Discharge Permit

On July 19, 2013, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) issued a draft general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that regulates stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity. The federal Clean Water Act requires facilities to obtain a NPDES permit in order to discharge pollutants via point sources into waters of the United States. This “Industrial General Permit” would require industrial facilities to comply with a host of new requirements not present in the current version of the permit, which was originally issued in 1997.

 

Facilities Covered by the New Requirements

Industrial facilities covered by these requirements include manufacturing plants (including light manufacturing); oil and gas/mining facilities; hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal (TSD) facilities; landfills and open dumps; recycling facilities; steam electric power generating facilities; transportation facilities; and sewage or wastewater treatment works.

 

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©2013. Reprinted with permission.