Storm Water

What is Storm Water Pollution?

There are two types of Storm Water Pollution: Point Source Pollution and Non-Point Source Pollution. Point Source Pollution is readily identifiable, whereby waste is discharged to the receiving waters from a pipe or drain. Examples of these types of water pollution include industrial discharge from a pipe into a stream or an oil spill in the ocean. Non-point Source Pollution refers to those inputs which occur over a wide area and are associated with particular land uses, as opposed to individual point source discharges. This type of pollution is more difficult to detect, as it is usually a cumulative effect of many "everyday" activities. This type of water pollution can seem negligible alone, but when combined over an entire community it can have deleterious effects on local water quality, aquatic life and the health of residents.

We know that the majority of Storm Water Pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. Some examples of everyday pollutants are lawn fertilizers, vehicles leaking oil, and waste dumping down a storm drain. Rainwater and snowmelt runs off into streets, lawns, farms, construction and industrial sites; and along the way picks up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil, grease and many other pollutants carrying them to rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

Most storm drainage systems were not built with filters to obstruct various pollutants from entering the waterways. Therefore, everything entering the storm drains is carried directly to a water source without any treatment.

Storm Water Pollution is not only an issue here in the United States; it is becoming a global crisis.

What is being done to help prevent Storm Water Pollution?

The Federal Clean Water Act regulates all direct discharges into navigable waters. All such discharges, including storm run-off, require permits issued under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Under authority from NPDES, the EPA has gradually been introducing phased requirements for pollution control of storm water discharges from certain kinds of industrial and commercial facilities and large municipalities. These permits restrict the quantity and quality of storm water discharges to California's navigable waters. To meet these permit requirements, individual discharges of storm water must assess their operations to determine if they are required to comply with the General Permits (or in some cases Individual Permits).

There are four types of NPDES Storm Water Permits within the State of California. They are: Construction, Industrial, Municipal, and CalTrans Permits.

CJS Storm Water Services

CJS has expertise in evaluation of Industrial and Municipal Businesses from storm water permitting with State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). We are familiar with standard and custom approaches towards mandated activities.

Industrial Permitting

  • Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)
  • Training
  • Best Management Practice (BMP) Selection and Implementation
  • Water Sampling
  • Compliance Consulting

Municipal Permitting

  • Storm Water Management Programs (SWMP)
  • Training
  • Best Management Practice (BMP) Selection and Implementation
  • Water Sampling
  • Compliance Consulting

General

  • Event Coordination (Earth Day, Storm Water talks...
  • Miscellaneous Compliance Consulting