NPDES Guidelines for Aquatic Applications
Orange County Public Works maintains numerous flood control channels, basins, and dams throughout the county. Due to inspection requirements and to maintain structural integrity many of these facilities are kept free of vegetation. As part of the County’s integrated pest management program, vegetation can be managed using aquatically approved pesticides along with other non-chemical methods. When herbicides are used in an aquatic environment the following guidelines are used:
- The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a program under the US Clean Water Act which regulates all materials can chemicals being used in public water bodies, including pesticides. These can include flood control facilities, channels, and dams that hold or convey water. A set of regulations is administered using a permit process which is used by OCPW to allow for legal aquatic applications to these water bodies. These permits are overseen by the State Water Resource and Control Boards in the state of California.
- For the NPDES permit to be issued an Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan (APAP) must be created and approved for each permit holder. These include conditions to use herbicides in public waters such as a restrictive list of approved products, sampling and monitoring protocols to ensure compliance with defined thresholds, and annual reporting requirements. The approved APAP for OCPW can be accessed here: OCPW - 2013 NOI and Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan.
Annual Notice for Pesticide Use
In compliance with OCPW’s NPDES permit, the Annual Notice for Pesticide Use can be accessed here.
