Information Public Education WQMP
The Federal Clean Water Act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program in 1972. The 1987 Amendment to the Clean Water Act required municipalities to obtain NPDES permits for storm water discharges to storm drain systems. In 1990, the County of Orange, County Flood Control District, and incorporated cities received a regional NPDES permit. A "Second Term" permit was renewed in 1996. A "Third Term" permit was renewed in 2002 and a "Fourth Term" permit is in the renewal process.
Orange County is within two state jurisdictions; Northern and Central Orange County are in the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board jurisdiction and Southern Orange County is in the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board jurisdiction.
The City of Orange is within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and has a total of 5 State and County NPDES permits that apply to storm water regulations within the City of Orange. These permits are listed below:
- State Water Quality Order No. 97-03-DWQ regulates discharges of storm water associated with industrial activities.
- State Water Quality Order No. 99-08-DWQ regulates discharge of storm water runoff associated with construction activities.
- State Water Quality Order No. 99-06-DWQ regulates storm water discharges from Caltrans properties, facilities, and activities.
- Orange County Order No. R8-2002-0010 and State Permit CAS618030 regulate waste discharge requirements (WDR).
- State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ regulates statewide general waste discharge requirements for sanitary sewer systems.
These permits require cities and counties to develop a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) to mitigate illegal discharges into the roadways and into the groundwater supply. The programs include: (1) Inspections of commercial and industrial properties; (2) Inspection and cleaning of storm water pipelines; and (3) Responding to complaints.
The City of Orange adopted the Local Implementation Plan which regulates the water quality of storm water run-off. The plan became effective on July 1, 2003.
Two major documents are associated with the LIP:
- Local Implementation Plan (LIP) (City of Orange).
Each City is required to create its own specific plan as to how it will comply with the NPDES permit.
The City of Orange LIP was developed and adopted on July 1, 2003.
The Local Implementation Plan requires various projects within the City to submit a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP).
See the WQMP page for further instructions regarding how to prepare the WQMP report.
- Drainage Area Management Plan (DAMP) (County of Orange).
The DAMP is Orange County's principal policy and guidance document for the NPDES program. The County and stakeholders created the DAMP, which has been in effect since 1993, with subsequent updated elements. The latest revision of the DAMP was in July 2003. See the County of Orange web site for further information.
The DAMP Section 7, Exhibit 7.II provides further discussion on the preparation of the WQMP report.
Technical discussion for the design of treatment control BMP can be found in the DAMP, Section 7, Attachment A. The Attachment includes instruction for First Flush calculations.
