Ventura Municipal Code Art. 2 Prohibition of Nonstormwater Discharges

Except as specified by this chapter, discharging any material other than stormwater to the storm drain system is prohibited. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

The following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth in this chapter:

A. Any discharge regulated under a NPDES permit issued to the discharger and administered by the state of California pursuant to Chapter 5.5, Division 7 of the California Water Code under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; provided, that the discharger is in compliance with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws and regulations.

B. Discharges from the following activities will not be considered a source of pollutants to waters of the United States when properly managed:

1. Water line flushing and other discharges from potable water sources;

2. Landscape irrigation and lawn watering;

3. Rising groundwaters;

4. Infiltration to separate storm drains;

5. Uncontaminated pumped groundwater;

6. Foundation and footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems);

7. Water from crawl space pumps;

8. Air conditioning condensation;

9. Springs;

10. Noncommercial washing of vehicles;

11. Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

12. Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges;

13. Flows from fire fighting; and

14. Waters not otherwise containing wastes as defined in California Water Code Section 13050(d) and the California Health and Safety Code Section 25117. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

With written concurrence of the regional board, the city may exempt in writing other discharges that are not a source of pollutants to the storm drain system or watercourses. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

Any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of the NPDES permit, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited. Liability for any such discharge is the responsibility of the person(s) causing or responsible for the discharge. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)

It is unlawful for any person to throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown, deposited, kept, or maintained, in or upon any public or private driveway, parking area, street, alley, sidewalk, or component of the storm drain system or watercourse, any refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, accumulations, and/or pollutants so that the same may cause or contribute to pollution. Any owner, occupant, or person in charge of day-to-day operations of the property failing to remove pollutants is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 99-1, § 2, 1-11-99)