The framework of compliance to water quality mandates from the State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is outlined in the BASIN plan.  The BASIN plan was adopted by the San Diego RWQCB in 1994 and is continuously amended to reflect the current status of water quality regulations from the SWQCB and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.  Three components of the BASIN plan affect the City of Laguna Beach.  These components are the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) and the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for 303(d) listed water bodies.

NPDES permits are issued to regulate discharges of pollutants from point sources to “waters of the United States” to ensure that the quality and quantity of such discharges does not adversely affect surface water quality or beneficial uses.  NPDES permits translate general requirements of the federal Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each entity discharging pollutants.  NPDES permits apply only to surface waters and, for the City of Laguna Beach, municipal storm water discharges.  The NPDES permit which the City operates under is issued to the County of Orange.  Currently, a new NPDES permit is under review.  The anticipated adoption date is unknown.  NPDES permits issued by the RWQCB also act as WDRs. 

WDRs are permits for waste discharges to land which could affect ground water quality, cause a nuisance or jeopardize beneficial uses.  The WDRs are issued by the SWQCB but may be amended by the RWQCB to reflect more stringent requirements necessary to address specific local problems with regard to the permitted discharge.  The City of Laguna Beach is subject to one WDR for the City’s sanitary sewer system.  Several City programs are within the scope of the SWQCB WDR including the Sewer System Management Plan, sewer operations and maintenance, capacity and performance upgrades, emergency response, the FOG (fats, oil grease) program, system monitoring, spill reporting and audits.  Additionally, the RWQCB requires the City to report private sewer lateral spills and to report spills greater than 1000 gallons within 24 hours of occurrence.  The following table outlines the timetable for compliance with specific elements of the WDR:

The TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be discharged into an impaired water body and still meet water quality standards.  A TMDL implementation plan describes what actions will be undertaken to alleviate the impairments.  The Clean Water Act requires that TMDLs be established for all impaired water bodies on the 303(d) list.  Laguna Beach has several water bodies on the 303(d) list including nearly all of the adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean.  Currently, TMDLs are being developed for these waters.  The anticipated date of implementation of TMDLs in Laguna Beach is unknown.