Article 1 — Title, Purpose and General Provisions

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the Riverside County stormwater/urban runoff management and discharge controls ordinance and may be so cited.

(Ord. 754.2 (part), 2006)

The purpose of this chapter is to ensure the future health, safety, and general welfare of county residents by:

A.

Reducing pollutants in stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable;

B.

Regulating illicit connections and discharges to the storm drain system; and

C.

Regulating nonstormwater discharges to the storm drain system.

The intent of this chapter is to protect and enhance the water quality of county watercourses, water bodies, groundwater, and wetlands in a manner pursuant to and consistent with applicable requirements contained in the Federal Clean Water Act (Title 33 U.S.C. Sections 1251 et seq.), Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (California Water Code Sections 13000 et seq.), any applicable state or federal regulations promulgated thereto, and any related administrative orders or permits issued in connection therewith.

(Ord. 754.2 (part), 2006)

The terms as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:

"Best management practice (BMPs)" means any activities, prohibitions, practices, procedures, programs, or other measures designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly into waters of the United States. BMPs shall include, but are not limited to, those measures specified in the California Stormwater Best Management Practice Handbooks for Municipal, Industrial/Commercial and Construction Activity and those measures identified by the director of TLMA.

"Commercial and industrial facilities" means and refers to a facility or facilities that consist of any of the following:

Auto-related activities — mechanical repair, maintenance, fueling or cleaning of automobiles, airplanes, boats and equipment, body repair or painting of automobiles and other vehicles, retail or wholesale fueling, automobile parking lots and storage facilities;

Mobile-related activities — mobile automobile or other motor vehicle washing; pest control services; mobile carpet, drape or furniture cleaning; concrete mixing or cutting; masonry; painting and coating; landscaping; pool and fountain cleaning; and Port-a-Potty or other portable toilet servicing;

Others — cemeteries, nurseries, greenhouses, golf courses, parks, other recreational areas/facilities, eating and drinking establishments;

Industrial — industrial facilities as defined within the Federal Clean Water Act, operating and closed municipal landfills, facilities subject to SARA Title III, hazardous waste treatment, disposal, storage and recovery facilities.

"County" means the county of Riverside.

"Director of TLMA" means the director of the county transportation and land management agency.

"Illicit connection" means any physical connection to a storm drain system which has not been permitted by Riverside County, the Riverside County flood control and water conservation district, or other appropriate public agency.

"Illicit discharge" means any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater runoff except discharges made pursuant to a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit or as otherwise authorized by the Santa Ana, San Diego, or Colorado River basin regional water quality control board.

"Municipal NPDES permit" means an area-wide NPDES permit issued to a government agency or agencies for the discharge of stormwater from a stormwater system. Such a permit is commonly referred to as a "MS4 Permit" (referring to "municipal separate storm sewer system").

"National pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit" means a stormwater discharge permit issued by the Santa Ana, San Diego, or Colorado River Basin regional water quality control board or the State Water Resources Control Board in compliance with the Clean Water Act.

"Nonstormwater discharge" means any discharge to the storm drain system that is not entirely composed of stormwater.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, association, club, organization, corporation, partnership, business trust, company or other entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties.

"Pollutant" means anything which causes the deterioration of water quality such that it impairs subsequent and/or competing uses of the water. Pollutants may include but are not limited to paints, oil and other automotive fluids, soil, sand, dirt, rubbish, trash, garbage, debris, refuse, waste, fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, enterococcus, other biological materials, radiological materials, suspended solids, heavy metals, hazardous waste, chemicals, fresh concrete, yard waste from commercial landscaping operations, animal waste, materials that result from the process of constructing a building or structure, nauseous or offensive matter of any kind.

"Premises" means any building, lot, parcel of land, land or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved.

"Storm drain system" means any facility within the unincorporated areas of the county by which stormwater may be conveyed to waters of the United States. Storm drain system includes but is not limited to any roads with drainage systems, streets, curbs, gutters, catch basins, natural and artificial channels, ditches, aqueducts, storm drains, inlets, conduit or other drainage structure.

"Stormwater runoff" means surface runoff and drainage associated with rain storm events and snow melt.

"Suspended solids" means solid materials or particles that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in, stormwater, wastewater or other liquid.

(Ord. 754.2 (part), 2006)

This chapter shall be administered for the county by the director of TLMA.

(Ord. 754.2 (part), 2006)

This chapter shall be construed to assure consistency with the requirements of the Clean Water Act, Porter- Cologne Water Quality Control Act and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, applicable implementing regulations, and any existing or future municipal NPDES permits and any amendments or revisions thereto or reissuance thereof.

(Ord. 754.2 (part), 2006)