Contact Us, FAQ's, and Resources

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• What is a watershed and why does it matter?

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    Simply stated, a watershed is an area of land that drains into a common water body, such as a river, lake, or the ocean. Water moving through a watershed picks up pollutants such as trash and bacteria and transports them into our waterways. Preventing pollutants from contaminating our water sources is important for everyone’s health and your actions can help protect our waterways.

     

• How can I help?

   

  • Good housekeeping practices like sweeping up litter, picking up pet waste, and preventing irrigation runoff can help to keep pollutants out of our waterways. To learn about more ways you can help, visit the County’s Watershed Protection Program’s Residential and Industrial/Commercial pages

   

   

• What is an MS4?

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    MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and is basically the storm drain system that is owned and operated by a local municipality.

    An MS4 discharges to local water bodies such as creeks, rivers, streams, lakes or reservoirs, is designated or used for collecting or conveying stormwater, is not a combined sewer, and is not part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works to treat wastewater.

     

• What is the MS4 Permit?

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    The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit is a regulatory tool used by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to regulate stormwater and non-stormwater discharges into MS4s and from MS4s into local water bodies.

    The MS4 Permit defines the regulatory obligations that agencies must meet to remain in compliance with the permit and avoid enforcement actions. MS4 Permits are issued to municipalities as owners of the MS4 and are renewed approximately every five years.

     

• What is the goal of the Permit and standards to achieve this goal?

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    The overarching goal of the Permit is to protect water quality and designated beneficial uses of local water bodies from adverse impacts caused or contributed to by discharges from MS4s (Order R9-2013-0001).

    Copermittees (i.e., agencies regulated by the MS4 Permit) are required to implement water quality improvement strategies and runoff management programs to meet two standards:

    i.      Non-stormwater discharges will be effectively prohibited from entering the MS4, and

    ii.      Pollutants in stormwater will be reduced to the maximum extent practicable (MEP).

    The County's water quality improvement strategies and Jurisdiction Runoff Management Program are available online for review. 

     

• What are the municipalities' responsibilities under the MS4 permit?

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    The primary responsibility that municipalities have to comply with the MS4 Permit is to reduce or eliminate the pollutants entering and leaving their storm drain systems so the discharges do not contribute to pollution of receiving waters.

    This is accomplished through management of three main areas: land use planning (including new development and redevelopment); construction; and existing development (including municipal, industrial, commercial, and residential areas and activities). The approaches used to regulate these sectors have been developed by individual jurisdictions over the past 15-20 years of regulation under MS4 Permits and are described in the agencies’ Jurisdictional Runoff Management Plans (JRMPs).

     

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• What is an illicit discharge?

  • An illicit discharge is any discharge to the storm drain system (MS4) that is not entirely composed of stormwater.  
    

     

• How can I report suspected illicit discharges or other storm drain pollution violations?

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    To report storm drain pollution, call 1-888-846-0800 or visit Project Clean Water.

     

• Who do I call to report a clogged or damaged storm drain?

  • Call our Toll-Free Hotline: 1-877-684-8000 or submit your concern online through the Department of Public Works’ Roads Service Request.

• Where do I report a housing, noise, and/or grading complaiint?

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    • Housing Complaints - Department of Environmental Health  - Food and Housing Division
    • Noise Complaints - Planning and Development Services - Code Enforcement
    • Grading Complaints - Planning and Development Services - Code Enforcement

     

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• Where can I pick up sandbags to prepare for the rainy season?

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    To find locations near you, visit: Sand Bag Locations in the Unincorporated County

    For information on flooding and how to utilize sand bags, visit: ReadySanDiego.org

     

• Where can I obtain information about rain barrels?

  • Please visit the County’s Watershed Protection Program's (WPP) Rain Barrel Information page and be sure to subscribe to WPP's (stormwater) e-mail listserv to get notified when rain barrel sales events are announced.

     

• Where can I obtain information about rebates and incentives?

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    Check these two websites to see what rebates and incentives  you may qualify for: 

    • County of San Diego Water Authority WaterSmart Program: https://www.watersmartsd.org/ 
    • Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: https://socalwatersmart.com/

     

• Where do I take my paints, automobile fluids, and household hazardous waste for recycling?

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    Our database lists recycling centers and contacts throughout San Diego County. Find one near you by visiting: https://wastefreesd.org/

    You can also contact the Recycling Hotline at: 1-877-R1EARTH

     

• Where can I find information on gray water and gray water systems?

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    Additional information regarding gray water and onsite wastewater systems is available on the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) website for Gray Water Systems. You can also call the Land and Water Quality Division offices at 858-565-5173.

     

• How do I locate my water district for more information on irrigation prohibitions?

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    Find your water district (member agency) to learn more about your district's irrigation prohibitions as well as the water conservation programs and incentives that are available. 

     

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• Who do I speak with about building plan questions?

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    Visit the County of San Diego - Planning and Development Services - Building Forms and Handouts Information Page.

     

• Do I need a construction permit?

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    Please review the Construction Permit educational handout for agencies you can contact regarding your specific project. 

     

• How do I obtain a grading permit?

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    Visit the County of San Diego - Planning and Development Services - Land Development Page.