OC Community Development Water Quality

Welcome to the NPDES Water Quality information page. Described below are the various water quality requirements that must be met throughout the project development and construction process. You will be provided a single point of contact during each of these phases. Should you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service line 714.667.8888

Please click the links on the interactive diagram below to navigate through the application process.

Discretionary Application Process
- Review of projects for water quality requirements
- Application of Conditions of Approval
Plan Check
- Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP)
- Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP)
Construction Site Inspections
- Implementation of construction phase BMPs
- NPDES Inspections
Post-Construction Operation and Maintenance of BMPs
- 12-month post-construction inspection

The County’s NPDES Program enforces State mandated water quality regulations that apply to construction projects in the unincorporated area. These regulations are intended to minimize pollutants and runoff from both construction sites and completed project sites. The County has established requirements that owners, developers, contractors and builders must meet at each stage of the project development process in order to achieve compliance. These NPDES requirements have been integrated into the project application/permit approval process and construction site inspection system. These requirements include the following:

Non-exempt projects must prepare and submit a project specific Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) prior to the issuance of any grading or building permit. The WQMP describes the permanent, post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will be constructed or utilized on the site and maintained during the life of the project.
An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP) must be submitted with each set of grading and building plans submitted for Plan Check. The ESCP describes the appropriate BMPs that will be used throughout the construction (grading and building) phase.
NPDES inspections will be conducted on all construction sites to ensure that appropriate BMPs are kept in place throughout the construction phase. The frequency of these inspections is regulated by a State mandated schedule for both wet and dry seasons.
After construction has been completed, property owners are responsible for the ongoing operation and maintenance of all structural and non-structural water quality BMPs on their property and may be required to obtain a 12-month post-construction inspection of treatment control BMPs.