California Code of Regulations
Title 23 - Waters
Division 4 - Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Chapter 1 - Water Quality Control Plans, Policies, and Guidelines
Article 9 - San Diego Region
Section 3983 - Revised Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Region

Universal Citation: 23 CA Code of Regs 3983

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

The revised Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the San Diego Region, as adopted September 10, 1994, by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, per Resolution No. 94-10 changes the regulatory provisions of the previous Basin Plan and its amendments as follows:

(a) Beneficial Use Categories and Definitions: Add definitions for "Aquaculture," "Estuarine Habitat" and "Marine Habitat." Revise beneficial use category definitions previously incorporated: Municipal and Domestic Supply" (MUN); Agricultural Supply", "Industrial Process Supply," "Ground Water Recharge," "Freshwater Replenishment," "Navigation", "Contract Water Recreation," "Non-contact Water Recreation," "Cold Freshwater Habitat," "Wildlife Habitat," "Preservation of Biological Habitats of Special Significance," "Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species," "Migration of Aquatic Organisms," "Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development," and "Shellfish Harvesting."

(b) Water Body Type Definitions: Add definitions for "inland surface waters", "ground water", and "coastal waters" (including ocean waters, enclosed bays, and estuaries).

(c) Inland Surface Waters, enclosed bays and estuaries, coastal lagoons, and ground waters:

(1) Revise coliform concentration objective for waters designated for shellfish harvesting (SHELL);

(2) Revise water quality objective for biostimulatory substances;

(3) Amend numerical objective for boron;

(4) Add narrative objective for natural color of fish;

(5) Revise water quality objectives for inorganic chemicals for waters designated MUN;

(6) Revise water quality objectives for chemical constituents for waters designated MUN;

(7) Add maximum contaminant level numeric objective for toluene for waters designated MUN;

(8) Add narrative objective for taste and odor of shellfish or other water resources used for human consumption;

(9) Add numeric water quality objectives for toxic pollutants;

(10) Add numeric objective for trihalomethanes in waters designated as MUN;

(d) Discharge Prohibitions:

(1) Add principles for issuing or reviewing general waste discharge permits;

(2) Add prohibition for discharge of waste to waters of the state;

(3) Add prohibition for discharge of waste to land;

(4) Add prohibition for discharge of pollutants or dredge and fill material to waters of the United States;

(5) Amend prohibition for discharge of treated or untreated waste to water bodies designated for MUN use;

(6) Amend prohibition for discharge of waste to inland surface waters;

(7) Amend prohibition for discharge of waste resulting in flow, ponding, or surfacing on lands not under control of the discharger;

(8) Amend prohibition for dumping, deposition, or discharge of waste directly into waters of the state;

(9) Add prohibition for any discharge to a storm water conveyance not composed entirely of "stormwater";

(10) Amend prohibition for unauthorized discharge of treated or untreated sewage to waters of the state;

(11) Add prohibition for discharge of industrial wastes to conventional septic tank/subsurface disposal systems;

(12) Add prohibition for discharge of any radiological, chemical, or biological warfare agent;

(13) Amend prohibition for discharge of earthen materials from any activity which results in deleterious bottom deposits, turbidity, or discoloration in waters of the state,

(14) Add prohibition for discharge of treated or untreated sewage from vessels to Oceanside Harbor, and Dana Point Harbor; and

(16) Revise prohibition for discharge of treated and untreated sewage to San Diego Bay.

(e) Water reclamation:

(1) Add master requirements for suppliers or distributors of reclaimed water;

(2) Add criteria for an exception to biostimulatory substances water quality objective for discharges to coastal water lagoons from pilot water reclamation projects;

(3) Add alternative method of showing compliance with biostimulatory substances water quality objectives for inland surface waters downstream of lakes or reservoirs used for municipal water supply;

(4) Revise the methodology for determining reclaimed water effluent limits;

(5) Add policy regarding consideration of water Reclamation as an alternative to ocean disposal;

(6) Add requirements for reclaimed water storage.

(f) Enforcement Actions:

(1) Add criteria for selection of the appropriate enforcement action in response to an incident of noncompliance;

(2) Add provision on enforcement actions against operators of Navy vessels.

(g) Add policy for regulation of individual domestic subsurface disposal systems, community sewerage systems, and alternative systems.

(h) Add provisions on testing to determine alternative for disposal of dredged material.

(i) Add policy for cleanup and abatement of contaminated soil and ground water.

1. New section summarizing regulatory provisions filed 4-26-95. Basin Plan revisions, as adopted per San Diego Regional Board Resolution No. 92-10 and approved by State Board Resolution No. 94-116, approved by OAL and effective per Government Code section 11353 on 4-26-95 (Register 95, No. 17).
2. Nonsubstantive amendments throughout the basin plan filed 4-25-2007; amendment adopted on 4-12-2006 by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Resolution No. R9-2006-0029; approved on 11-15-2006 by the State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2006-0090 on 11-15-2006; approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code 11353 (Register 2007, No. 17).
3. Nonsubstantive amendments to the Basin Plan to administratively update Chapter 2 "Beneficial Uses," Chapter 3 "Water Quality Objectives," and Chapter 4 "Implementation" filed 9-1-2021; amendments adopted 12-8-2020 by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Resolution No. R9-2020-0254; approved 4-20-2021 by the State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2021-0013; amendments approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 on 9-1-2021 (Register 2021, No. 36).

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