Water Quality and Supply Issues Monthly Update-APR 2023
Maybe, just maybe, the firehose of rain directed at California this winter and early spring is finally running out. What a year in water we have shared together, and it is truly remarkable given the painful drought the past three years. We must make the most of what we have and increase our efforts to capture more water in years just like this.
As Spring is finally here, there are several areas where we are engaged on important water quality issues and policy development impacting the Construction Industry in California. First, we want our readers to know about new training requirements being rolled out at the State level for construction site stormwater professionals. The Construction General Permit was just renewed, with many new or revised conditions that will now apply for job site compliance.
In the Bay area and Southern California, a new generation of regional municipal separate storm sewer systems permits (commonly known as MS4 permits) have been adopted, now allowing more widespread use of proprietary flow-through biofiltration and biotreatment systems for meeting on-site stormwater capture requirements. CICWQ has been supporting the construction industry and stormwater capture suppliers and vendors in getting these systems approved for use, with the latest developments covered this month.
Finally, get up to speed on the State Water Board’s effort to promote the use of water quality credit trading programs as part of MS4 permit compliance and learn more about the recently launched Stormwater Credit Think Tank.
Keep the umbrella ☔handy for a few more weeks!
WATER ISSUES WORTH YOUR TIME IN APRIL
1) Construction General Permit (CGP) for Stormwater Refresher Training Opportunities Coming Up – Get Ready
The newly revised CGP goes into full effect this year on September 1. For existing Qualified SWPPP Developers (QSDs) and Qualified SWPPP Practitioners (QSPs), CGP refresher training is required to maintain existing credentials that are necessary to perform work on CGP-approved projects. State-sponsored online training classes will be available summer of 2023. Want CICWQ to update you when these trainings become available? Sign up at the link below.
2) CICWQ Supports Timely Updates to Regional MS4 Permit Technical Guidance Documents for New and Redevelopment Projects
CICWQ and several member companies are advocating that public works agencies charged with administering Phase I MS4 permits update their Technical Guidance Documents. These documents are prepared by professional engineers and describe specific engineering evaluations and procedures which must be followed to comply with on-site stormwater retention volume capture requirements.
In the past three years, Phase I MS4 permits for large urban areas in California have been renewed and now allow a more streamlined process for approving flow-through stormwater capture systems known as biofiltration or biotreatment. New approval procedures will rely on well-established engineering testing procedures and protocols used by several other U.S. states, including Washington and New Jersey.
3) Stormwater Credit Think Tank Launched in California
In February, the State Water Resources Control Board hosted the STORMS* Seminar Series - Building Blocks for Offsite Stormwater Credit Programs. As a follow-up to the Seminar and to continue conversations and engagement across the state on credit trading, a Stormwater Credit Think Tank has been established.
The Stormwater Credit Think Tank will draw from a diverse group of public, private, not-for-profit, and community-based organizations to guide policy development. The first meeting is scheduled for April 12.
STORMS' mission is to lead the evolution of Stormwater management in California by advancing the perspective that stormwater is a valuable resource, supporting policies for collaborative watershed-level stormwater management and pollution prevention, removing obstacles to funding, developing resources, and integrating regulatory and non-regulatory interests.
