New Stormwater Permit Adopted for Ventura County

Last Thursday, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted new regulations for Ventura County aimed at keeping local waterways and beaches clean.

The newly adopted National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be shared by Ventura County government and all 10 cities within county limits. The persistence of pollution in the waters off county beaches has prompted a need for more stringent measures, according to state regulators and environmentalists.

Heal the Bay and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) played major roles in support of the permit, making revisions to the permit language to create clear guidelines. One of the major revisions involves Low Impact Development requirements for new development and redevelopment, which requires 95% of the runoff to be infiltrated.

This permit is especially relevant since it is believed to set a precedent for other local municipalities, including the City of Los Angeles. For more information on this permit, visit www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/08/water-board-sets-tougher-regulations-on/