Water Quality Permitting & Compliance
Clear Solutions for Complex Water Regulations
We help municipal and industrial permittees manage stormwater water quality requirements effectively. Our team partners with you to meet federal, state, and local regulations—reducing risk, protecting water resources, and keeping your operations in full compliance.
The Experts
Pacific Engineering & Consulting specializes in helping businesses navigate complex water quality regulations. Our team includes Certified Professionals in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ) as well as Qualified SWPPP Developers (QSDs), Qualified SWPPP Practitioners (QSPs), and Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioners (QISPs), ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local stormwater permitting requirements.
The Operation
We assist businesses and municipalities in developing and maintaining Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and Stormwater Quality Management Plans (SWQMPs), preparing Notices of Intent (NOIs), and Reports of Waste Discharge (ROWDs).
The Purpose
Non-compliance with water quality regulations can lead to costly fines, legal risks, and environmental harm. Our services help businesses and municipalities avoid penalties, protect water resources, and streamline regulatory compliance—supporting long-term sustainability, community trust, and operational peace of mind.
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How Our Experts Work
Our areas of expertise in Water Quality Permitting and Compliance include:
- Developing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) customized to facility or agency needs
- Preparing No Discharge (NONA) and No Exposure Certifications (NEC) to reduce compliance burdens
- Ensuring alignment with California’s Industrial General Permit (IGP) and Phase I/II MS4 permit programs
- Advising on best management practices (BMPs) to minimize pollutants and improve runoff quality
- Conducting site inspections, water sampling, and Exceedance Response Actions (ERA Levels 1 & 2)
- Submitting documentation to SMARTS and other required databases
Compliance & Certification
Different facilities may require different levels of compliance. You can contact one of our QISPs, and they can help you determine if your facility qualifies for either of these exclusions.
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a site-specific, living document that outlines the activities, materials, and conditions at your facility that could contribute to stormwater pollution—and details the steps you’ll take to prevent it. Required under both federal and state regulations, a compliant SWPPP identifies potential pollutant sources, describes best management practices (BMPs), and includes procedures for monitoring and reporting.
Our team develops tailored SWPPPs for both industrial facilities and municipal systems, ensuring compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), California’s Industrial General Permit (IGP), and MS4 permit requirements.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces stormwater regulations through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Facilities operating in states without an EPA-approved program must comply with the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), which mandates the development of a SWPPP, stormwater sampling, routine inspections, and periodic reporting.
Facilities in the following sectors are federally regulated under NPDES:
- Manufacturing and light industrial operations
- Oil, gas, and mineral extraction
- Hazardous waste treatment and disposal
- Landfills and recycling operations
- Steam electric and sewage treatment works
- Transportation and warehousing facilities
We help clients nationwide meet NPDES requirements with precision and confidence.
In California, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) administers the Industrial General Permit (IGP) and oversees implementation of the Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Businesses discharging stormwater must enroll under the IGP, maintain a SWPPP, implement BMPs, and submit monitoring data through the SMARTS system.
Facilities regulated under the IGP include:
- Manufacturing and processing facilities
- Hazardous waste storage or treatment sites
- Landfills and open dump operations
- Recycling and salvage yards
- Airports and vehicle maintenance facilities
- Sewage or wastewater treatment plants
Municipalities may also fall under Phase I or II MS4 permits, which require a stormwater management program (SWMP) and annual reporting. PEC assists both public agencies and private businesses in navigating these layered requirements.
Regulatory compliance can be time-consuming, technical, and high-stakes—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. PEC’s experienced team supports every stage of the process, from plan development and monitoring to reporting and technical documentation.
Whether you’re enrolling in a permit for the first time, updating your SWPPP, applying for a NONA or NEC, or managing an ERA Level 1 or 2 exceedance response—we can help. We’ve supported hundreds of facilities and agencies across California in meeting their stormwater obligations and protecting their operations from risk.
Let’s talk about how we can do the same for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Administrative and/or civil penalties may be issued up to $70,000 per day, per violation if a facility fails to comply with the outlined conditions, standards, and time schedules. Our qualified and experienced engineers have helped hundreds of clients better understand their compliance requirements and avoid costly fines and penalties. Let’s Get In Touch.
Additional requirements may be assigned to a facility that has been given Level 1 status due to an annual NAL exceedance, or two exceedances. Level 1 requirements include:
- Facility oversight by a Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP)
- Implementation of additional best management practices (BMPs) to address pollutants in stormwater runoff
- A Level 1 ERA Report submitted online via the SMARTS database
A facility at Level 1 status can quickly escalate to Level 2 status if just one water sample provided in the upcoming stormwater year exceeds acceptable NALs.
Please contact one of our QISPs for more information on Level 1 & Level 2 reports, or for a free proposal.
If a business is designated Level 2 status, additional costly obligations will be required.
Additional requirements may be assigned to a facility that has been given Level 1 status due to an annual NAL exceedance, or two exceedances. Level 1 requirements include:
- A Level 2 ERA plan developed by a QISP that must be submitted to the SMARTS database by January 1 of the stormwater year following the exceedance
- Advanced BMPs required
- Stormwater treatment may be necessary to reduce exceedances below NAL levels
- A Level 2 Discharger will be required to submit a Level 2 Technical report prepared by a QISP that must be submitted via the SMARTS database
Facilities must comply with the IGP to avoid costly lawsuits from environmental groups and non-compliance penalties from government regulators. Our team of experienced QISPs can help your facility maintain applicable exceedance parameters and prevent the unnecessary escalation of your compliance status.
Contact us today to learn more, and how we can assist with Level 1 and Level 2 reports if needed.
Do you have an on-site stormwater pond or is your facility in a region that does not discharge to Waters of the United States (WOTUS)? You might qualify for a NONA, which would make your facility completely exempt from permitting under the CWA.
Pacific Engineering & Consulting can help you determine if your facility is exempt by evaluating the hydraulics and hydrology of your site and running a continuous simulation model to determine if the pond would ever discharge to WOTUS. If your facility meets all requirements, our specialists can provide your organization with a No Discharge Technical Report, which must be prepared and signed by a California-licensed professional engineer and submitted with the NONA application on the SMARTS database.
Are all your industrial materials and operations contained and protected by a storm-resistant shelter? Then you might be eligible for a No Exposure Certification (NEC), an alternative compliance path that is far less burdensome. All industrial categories, except construction, are eligible to apply for the NEC exclusion. You may qualify for the NEC if your facility has been evaluated and can certify that there is no exposure of industrial activities and materials in eleven major areas, now or in the foreseeable future. If eligible, Pacific Engineering & Consulting can file this report for your organization annually, and you will simply pay a nominal fee to the SWRCB.
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Reach out today and discover how we can develop compliance solutions to your needs.
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