Stormwater Program

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No Dumping Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. The 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibit the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters from a point source unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. In 1987, the passage of the Water Quality Act established NPDES permit requirements for discharges of stormwater. The NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Section 402 (p) (2) of the federal Clean Water Act lists five types of stormwater discharges required to obtain a NPDES permit. Since 1990, operators of stormwater systems such as Orange County's have been required to:

Develop a stormwater management program designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being dumped or washed by stormwater runoff, into the stormwater system, then discharged into local waterbodies.
Obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

Stormwater 101

Did you know that the storm drain system in your neighborhood drains directly to the ocean?

Storm drain systems are different from sewer systems. Sewer systems take water from sinks and toilets at your home or business to a waste water treatment plant for treatment and filtration. Storm drain systems however take water from your streets and driveways directly to the ocean. When this water picks up pollutants along its way, it ultimately reached the ocean untreated.

These videos will explain some of the common water pollution sources as well as how YOU can help to prevent pollution to our precious water.

Help Prevent Ocean Pollution

Do your part to prevent water pollution in our creeks, rivers, bays and ocean.

Clean beaches, healthy creeks, rivers, bays, and ocean are important to Orange County. However, many common household activities can lead to water pollution if you’re not careful. Litter, oil, paint, chemicals and other substances that are left on your yard, driveway or in the street can be blown or washed into the street gutters that lead to storm drains that flow to the ocean. Over-watering your lawn and washing your car can also flush materials into the storm drains. Unlike water in sanitary sewers (from sinks and toilets), water in storm drains is not treated.

You would never pour soap, paint, fertilizers or oil into the ocean, so don’t let them enter the streets, gutters or storm drains.

Follow These Easy Tips

Do not rinse spills with water! Sweep up outdoor spills and dispose in the trash.
For wet spills, apply cat litter or another absorbent material, then sweep and bring to a household hazardous waste collection center.
Securely cover trash cans.
Do not hose down your driveway, sidewalk or patio. Sweep up debris and throw away.
Always pick up after your pet. Flush the waste down the toilet or dispose in the trash.
For home improvement jobs, make sure that construction materials are off the street and use sandbags and plastic tarps to cover sediment or other material that could be washed down the storm drain by rainy weather.
Do not drain your pool unless it has been de-chlorinated and has a PH balance between 6 and 8.
Water your lawn by hand to stop sprinkler overflows, and do not fertilize your lawn if rain is in the forecast.
Do not dump wash water on to your driveway, street or gutter.
Monitor vehicles for leaks and place pans under leaks. Keep your car well maintained to stop and prevent leaks.
Never pour oil, antifreeze, engine degreasers or any other substance down the storm drain.
Any substance other than rain water may harm the environment and pollute our waters.
Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste can be disposed of free of charge at the Hazardous Waste Center located at 17121 Nichols Street, Gate 6 in Huntington Beach. For more information on this center, please call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at (714) 834-6752, or visit this site near Beach Boulevard and Warner Avenue from 9am to 3pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Midway City Sanitary District will recycle your used motor oil for free. Bring your used oil in a sealed container to the Used Oil Collection Center on the north side of the building between the hours of 8am-4pm. Residents must check into the District's front office for access.

For more information, visit the H2OC website.

Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP)

A Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) is required for many construction projects as well as all new/significant redevelopment projects. WQMP describes the post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will be implemented and maintained for a project to prevent and minimize stormwater pollution. More on WQMP can be found below:

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