Stormwater Programs
Public Information and Participation Program (PIPP)
The City of Ventura is an active participant in the Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program. It’s purpose is to enhance, protect, and preserve water quality in Ventura County. Proactive and innovative strategies and ideas are discussed with the aim to preserve biodiversity, ecological vitality, and human health. This collaborative effort aims at increasing the knowledge of the target audience about the MS4 permit and communicate the adverse impacts of stormwater pollution as well as the potential solutions to mitigate these impacts.
Ventura County’s Community for Clean Watershed program was established to help residents understand how to respect and protect our watersheds.There are a number of very helpful brochures available that explain what residents and businesses can do to help our watershed as well as best management practices in stormwater pollution prevention.
Industrial and Commercial Business Program
Unless otherwise precluded by local ordinances, industrial and commercial facilities must implement pollutant reduction and control measures in effort to reduce pollutants in stormwater. These measures may be used alone or in combination with one another and can be applied before, during or after pollutant generating activities occur. At a minimum, industrial and commercial facilities must include a control program that tracks, inspects, and ensures compliance with municipal ordinances at said facilities. The City of Ventura is responsible for maintaining a database of all facilities within its jurisdiction that are critical sources of stormwater pollution, including restaurants, automotive service facilities, nurseries, landfills, and more. Business assistance information for control measures can be found online on the Ventura County's Community for Clean Watershed webpage here.
Light and heavy industrial facilities with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes and corresponding North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes found on the State Water Resources Control Board list of regulated businesses may be required to obtain GENERAL PERMIT FOR STORM WATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES, ORDER 2014-0057-DWQ, NPDES NO. CAS000001 (Industrial General Permit) coverage. Industrial General Permit resources can be found here. Additional resources and assistance information can be found on the Industrial Notice of Intent Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Planning and Land Development
The Planning and Land Development Program helps lessen the water quality impacts of development by using smart growth practices, such as compact development, directing development toward existing communities, safeguarding of environmentally sensitive areas, mixing of land uses, transit accessibility, and better pedestrian and bicycle amenities. This program aids in maintaining the biological integrity of natural drainage systems and the beneficial uses of water bodies by minimizing the adverse impacts from stormwater runoff. Pollutants in runoff generated on impervious surfaces should to be treated to the maximum extent prior to being released from development sites.
Low-impact development strategies (post-construction best management practices) should be utilized to infiltrate, store, and reuse stormwater runoff whenever possible. Incorporating vegetation to promote pollutant removal also supports the reduction in runoff volume and integrates multiple uses. New and re-development is subject to these requirements and must control pollutants, runoff, loading from impervious surfaces through infiltration, storage, evaporation, bioretention, etc.
Stormwater Compliance Study Requirements
Reference to Technical Guidance Manual (TGM)
City of Ventura Land Development
City of Ventura Curb Cut Program
Development Construction Program
This program is aimed at preventing illicit construction-related discharges of pollutants to the MS4 as well as reduce construction site discharges of pollutants. Development sites are required to develop stormwater pollution plans to mitigate impacts that may arise during the building process.
All construction or demolition activities, clearing, grading, grubbing, or excavation or any other activity that results in a land disturbance are required to implement an effective combination of stormwater pollution controls to prevent erosion, sediment loss, and the discharge of waste.
For additional guidance on implementation of specific types of stormwater pollution control Best Management Practices, please visit our Construction & Demolition Stormwater Controls page.
Illicit Connections and Illicit Discharge Program
An illicit discharge is defined as any discharge to the MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except for discharges allowed under a NPDES permit. Non-stormwater discharges can originate from direct connections to the storm drain system from business or commercial establishments (illicit connections), or indirectly as improper surface discharges to the storm drain system. Please call (805) 667-6510 if you see any suspicious activity or believe that there is a stormwater violation.
For additional guidance on implementation of specific types of stormwater pollution control Best Management Practices, please visit our Construction & Demolition Stormwater Controls page.