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Thursday, January 8, 2009

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Industrial, Commercial Activities & Stormwater Pollution

Aerial view of the Guadalupe River as it flows through commercial areas to the South San Francisco Bay

Stormwater Overview

The City of San José regularly inspects a variety of businesses to ensure that the businesses are doing their part to protect the stormdrains and creeks and that the businesses are operating in compliance with the law. Most businesses are inspected every three to five years depending on the type of business. If a business has difficultly complying with stormwater regulations, that business will be inspected by the City more frequently. Typical businesses that are subject to inspection include restaurants, transportation facilities, recycling facilities, metal plating facilities, auto repair shops and a variety of other types of manufacturing and service related businesses that have the potential to pollute stormwater runoff.

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Stormwater Inspections & Enforcement

The City’s Environmental Inspectors, located within the Watershed Protection Division of the Environmental Services Department, inspect more than 4,000 businesses per year to ensure that proper practices are employed to prevent stormwater pollution. How frequently a business is inspected depends on their potential for contributing pollutants as determined by previous inspection results. This method of assigning inspection frequencies has been effective in focusing limited inspection resources on high priority cases to best protect water quality. Generally, over 70% of the businesses inspected are found to have no significant stormwater issues and thus do not warrant near-term re-inspection. When issues are identified, education and enforcement are used together to achieve compliance.

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Stormwater Resources

Visit our Publications page to find Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will help your business comply with stormwater regulations. You can also ask your City inspector for additional guidance and resources.

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Report Storm Drain Dumping

Photo of a no-dumping storm drain stencil

Call (408) 945-3000

Or use the online form to report illegal dumping to the storm drain.

Codes & Fines

Administrative Fines for Violation of the San José Wastewater & Stormwater Discharge Regulations

NPDES Permit

General Industrial Activities Storm Water Permit (GIASP)

Pollution Prevention - Businesses

California Stormwater Quality Associatoin (CASQA) logoCalifornia Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Industrial and Commercial Handbook

 

 

Last Modified Date: 1/6/2009

 
 

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