For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs). Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, maintenance procedures, educational programs and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures and practices to control facility nonstormwater sources, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, drainage from raw materials storage and control of hazardous materials. The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) stormwater best management practice handbooks for municipal, industrial/commercial and construction activity provide a detailed discussion of BMPs. BMPs are required to be implemented and maintained in a manner that is consistent with the CASQA best management practice handbooks or equivalent guidelines.
CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD (SWRCB). The state agency charged with administration of the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits.
CLEAN WATER ACT. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER. Groundwater mixed with a pollutant.
DIRECTOR. The Director of Public Works, or his or her designee.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. The Director, or his or her designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA). The federal agency charged with enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT. Stormwater discharge permit for small municipal storm sewer systems (MS4), construction general permit, and industrial general permit issued by the SWRCB which authorizes the discharge of stormwater pursuant to the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1342).
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGE (NSWD). Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI). A form submitted to the SWRCB notifying the agency of a person’s intent to be covered under the state general permit for the control of construction site runoff on projects that disturb one acre of land or more, in one or more phases of construction or for industrial activities.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, corporation, firm, company, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, government entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents or assigns.
POLLUTANT. Anything which causes deterioration of water quality such that it impairs subsequent and/or competing uses of water. Shall have the same meaning as defined in 40 C.F.R. part 122.2, and shall include, but not be limited to, any solid, liquid, gas or other substance that can alter the physical or chemical properties of water including, but not limited to, fertilizers, solvents, sludge, petroleum or petroleum products, solid waste, garbage, sand, dirt, animal waste, acids, bases, paints, oil and other automotive fluids, rubbish, debris, hazardous waste, chemicals, fresh concrete, yard waste from residential and commercial landscaping operations, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci, enterococcus, heavy metals, materials that result from constructing a building or structure, and nauseous or offensive matter of any kind.
PREMISES. Any building, lot, parcel, real estate, or land or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD (RWQCB). The state division of the SWRCB charged with enforcement of the water quality laws and regulations in the State of California.
STORM DRAIN SYSTEM. All or any part of publicly or privately owned and maintained roads, streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, human-made channels, canals, storm drains and dry wells located within public easements, rights-of-way, parks, common areas, retention areas, or other publicly or privately owned or maintained real property designed or used for collecting, holding, or conveying stormwater to waters of the United States, or designed to be percolated (i.e., dry well) into the groundwater system.
STORMWATER. Any surface flow, runoff and drainage consisting entirely of water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.
STORMWATER RUNOFF. Surface runoff and drainage associated with storm events.
UNLAWFUL CONNECTION. Any physical connection to a storm drain system which has not been permitted by the city.
UNLAWFUL DISCHARGE. Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater or stormwater discharges from private property designed or intended to be disposed of on site. Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, ejecting, placing, releasing, leaching, dumping or disposing into or on any land in a manner that may cause pollution.
URBAN RUNOFF. Runoff collected by any roads with drainage systems, streets, curbs, gutters, catch basins, natural and artificial channels, ditches, aqueducts, storm drains, inlets, conduits or other drainage structures owned, operated or approved by the city.
(Ord. 629, passed 2-21-2017)