Stormwater

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Welcome to the City of Fullerton's Stormwater/Wastewater Program. Here you will find information regarding news on efforts to reduce stormwater pollution, informative educational materials, pollution prevention tips for residents and businesses, online documents and reporting forms, links to other stormwater program participants and more. Together, we can prevent stormwater pollution and keep our channels, creeks, bays and ocean clean.

Important Quick Reference Phone Numbers

Engineering Department
For questions regarding City owned construction projects and general questions regarding the City’s NPDES permit
(714) 738-6845

Community Development Department
For questions regarding private construction projects, stormwater/wastewater issues on private property, and residential best practices to prevent stormwater/wastewater pollution
Community Development NPDES
(714) 738-6563

Fire Department
For questions regarding the City’s Industrial Facilities Inspection Program
Fire Department NPDES
(714) 738-5359

Report spills of non-hazardous chemicals or liquids
(714) 738-6897

Call the Fire Department at 911 if the spill involves large quantities of oil, gasoline, oil based paints, or harmful chemicals

If you prefer to send a service request electronically, then please see Report a Water Pollution Problem below

What is Stormwater and Wastewater?

Stormwater runoff refers to runoff resulting from rainfall. It is very noticeable during heavy rainstorms when large volumes of water drain off the urban landscape picking up pollutants along the way.

Wastewater or Urban runoff can happen anytime of the year when excessive water use from irrigation, vehicle washing, construction activities and other sources carries trash, lawn clippings and other urban pollutants into storm drains.

What is Stormwater/Wastewater Pollution?

Stormwater/wastewater pollution is urban runoff water that has picked up pollutants as it flows through the storm drain system-a network of channels, gutters and pipes that collect runoff from city streets, neighborhoods, farms, construction sites and parking lots-and empties directly into local waterways.

Unlike sewage, which goes to treatment plants, urban runoff flows untreated through the storm drain system. Anything thrown, swept or poured into the street, gutter or a catch basin (the curbside openings that lead into the storm drain system) can flow directly into our channels, creeks, bays and ocean. This includes pollutants like trash, pet waste, cigarette butts, motor oil, anti-freeze, runoff from pesticides and fertilizers, paint from brushes and containers rinsed in the gutter and toxic household chemicals.

For More Information:

OC Watersheds
- Brochures on Stormwater/Wastewater Pollution Prevention Brochures
- Videos and Radio on Stormwater/Wastewater

Where does Stormwater and Wastewater go?

Regulatory Information

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of any pollutant to navigable waters (Waters of the U.S.) from a point source unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act established NPDES permit requirements for the discharges of stormwater. The NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.

Industrial facilities and construction sites are regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board, through general stormwater permits. Cities and counties are regulated through permits issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards. Since 1990, operators of large storm drain systems such as Fullerton'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; and
Obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The NPDES permit programs in California are administered by the State Water Resources Control Board and by nine regional boards that issue NPDES permits and enforce regulations within their respective region.

Fullerton lies within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Region. This regional board issues permits to the Orange County Permittees, which includes the County of Orange, Orange County Flood Control District and incorporated cities of Orange County. Since the program's inception, the County of Orange has served as the "principal permittee".Cities, such as Fullerton, have been “co-permittee” with the County of Orange.

Additional Regulatory Documents and Reports

The following documents describe the regulations and programs for water quality in Orange County.

Basin Plans
The document for each region of the State Water Quality Board's jurisdiction, Santa Ana and San Diego, is the Water Quality Control Plan, commonly referred to as the Basin Plan. It is the foundation for the regulatory programs of each regional board. The Basin Plan documents the beneficial uses of the region's ground and surface waters, existing water quality conditions, problems, and goals, and actions by the regional board and others that are necessary to achieve and maintain water quality standards. Water Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

Municipal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
The permits of each region outline additional steps for a storm water management program and specify requirements to help protect the beneficial uses of the receiving waters. They require permittees to develop and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control/reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board Municipal NPDES Permit Order No. R8-2002-0010

Construction Activities State National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for the stormwater discharges associated with construction activity (general permit) water quality order 99-08-DWQ

Drainage Area Management Plan
The draft 2000 Drainage Area Management Plan (DAMP) describes the Orange County Stormwater Program, implemented by the County of Orange and cities to comply with their jointly held stormwater permit. It is the principal policy and guidance document for the countywide NPDES Stormwater Program. DAMP-OC Drainage Area Management Plan

Orange County Stormwater Program Annual Status Report
The Annual Status Report is a requirement of the NPDES permit for submittal to the Regional Boards and United States Environmental Protection Agency. The report presents an analysis and assessment of permit compliance activities for the past fiscal year as required by the permits.

Additional Resource Links