Drinking Water O&M
Go through the sections below. You may skip this section if your job responsibilities do not involve Drinking Water System O&M.
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to protect waterways by preventing and controlling pollution caused by drinking water system discharges.
Note on Permits
Requirements for Drinking Water System discharges depend on what NPDES Permit an agency is covered under for the discharges. Enrollment in the statewide Drinking Water System (DWS) NPDES Permit will cover most all discharges. If not enrolled in this Permit, routine O&M discharges will be addressed by the Municipal NPDES Permit, and other discharges will be addressed by special regional NPDES Permits.
Overview of the Drinking Water System NPDES Permit
Drinking Water BMPs
BMP Manual. Pemittees are required to retain and implement a BMP Manual. This manual can serve this function. Note the BMP log form referenced in the Reporting section is based on the BMPs in this manual.
Reporting and Record Keeping
The NPDES DWS Permit has specific Annual Reporting and record keeping requirements. The following documents may be used to assist in meeting these requirements.
Monitoring log sheet. Created by JLHA for use by field staff during a monitoring event.
BMP log sheet. Created by JLHA for use by field staff during a monitoring event.
Checklist of record keeping requirements. A helpful reminder.
Checklist of Annual Reporting requirements. A helpful reminder.
More on the Drinking Water System Discharges NPDES Annual Report
An Annual Report must be submitted to the State Water Board:
By March 1 each year. The Report covers discharges from the prior calendar year.
Via email as one PDF to DMR@waterboards.ca.gov. The email subject title should include the system number provided in the system's "Notice of Applicability" (NOA) issued by the State Water Board, as well as the phrase, "DWS Annual Report".
The Annual Report must include the information in listed in this checklist. The cover letter to the Annual Report must also include the following language:
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all enclosures were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."
