The County of San Diego Agricultural Water Quality Program (AWQ) helps to ensure that our waterways are protected by preventing pollutants from commercial agricultural businesses from entering the County's storm drain system in compliance with our municipal Stormwater permit.

AWQ conducts outreach, inspections, and complaint investigations at commercial agriculture businesses to ensure operations are protecting regional water quality through compliance with regional stormwater permit standards. 

Water that is released to the streets, gutters, and storm drains in San Diego County is NOT TREATED before it reaches our local creeks, rivers, and ocean. All sources of pollution are prohibited from leaving your site and entering streets or storm drains. Only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains. The County of San Diego Agricultural Water Quality Program supports businesses in their efforts to prevent pollution by offering the resources found on this page. 

Annual Stormwater Training Material

Agricultural Stormwater Training Event
PDF Version of Presentation

Agricultural Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs)

| English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog | Arabic

Only Rain in the Storm Drain

| English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog | Arabic

UCCE Agricultural Water Quality Continuing Education Course Ch. 1 – 4

| English | Spanish |

Annual Stormwater Training Documentation Fillable Form

| English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog | Arabic

Additional Resources

Stormwater Annual Review Guidelines and Form (pdf)

Pesticide BMPs

Sedimentation From Agricultural Operations (pdf)

Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency & Water Runoff Management Demo & Discussion

Invest in Our Planet!  In celebration of Earth Day 2022, the Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery and University of California Cooperative Extension San Diego invite you for a free field demonstration and discussion on irrigation system efficiency and managing runoff. Applying these techniques will not only improve our region’s water quality but could also save you money! Register or learn more.

Additionally, if you are an agricultural grower in the Unincorporated County, you could be eligible for rebates to upgrade your irrigation system (up to $550/acre or $5,000 – whichever is lower).   Check your eligibility and learn more at our Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program page

Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) & Resources ~ Recorded Webinar

The Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) hosted a webinar in November 2021 to review Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Resources. The webinar included presentations by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County (RCD San Diego), and the Agricultural Water Quality Program (AWQ). Please refer to the following links for a recording of the webinar, as well as for accessing the presentation slides with active resource links and contact information.  

Agricultural BMPs & Resources Presentation Slides

Agricultural BMPs & Resources Webinar Recording

The Agricultural BMPs & Resources presentation slides are also available in the following languages: Spanish | Arabic | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog

AWQ Program Enhancements

In September 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures provided informational webinars to review Agricultural Water Quality (AWQ) Program planned enhancements.  The following presentations provide the same information as reviewed during the AWQ Program planned enhancement webinars, but with additional translation to Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

September 2021 AWQ Program Enhancements Webinar

Arabic | Chinese | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese

For additional information on the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) planned program enhancements, you may also refer to the  Stakeholder Letter.

State Required Enrollment in Agricultural Order

As of 2016 any and all commercial agricultural businesses operating in San Diego County are required to enroll in the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Ag. Order (GENERAL ORDER NO. R9-2016-0004).

A commercial agricultural business is defined by the Ag. Order as, “Any agricultural business or trade activity, including farms, nurseries, and orchards, that produces crops with the intent to make a profit.”

More information on this state mandate, visit the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Ag. Order Program page.  

All questions regarding these requirements should be directed to the Regional Water Quality Control Board.