Roseville’s Stormwater Management Program works to protect water quality in local creeks by managing what enters the storm drain system. This includes regulating both stormwater and non-stormwater discharges from commercial, industrial, construction, residential, and municipal activities.
How the program is regulated
Stormwater flowing through the City’s system is regulated under the State’s General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). This permit requires the City to reduce pollutants in runoff to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP), which is a standard focused on using effective, reasonable methods to improve water quality.
How we reduce pollution
To meet these requirements, the City monitors discharges and works to reduce pollutants at the source or through treatment. This includes applying best management practices (BMPs), which are proven methods to prevent or control pollution before it reaches waterways.
What are BMPs?
BMPs can include physical solutions, like filters or containment systems, as well as operational practices, such as proper storage, cleanup, and employee training. These approaches are regularly evaluated and adjusted to improve effectiveness over time.
For more detailed guidance, visit the CASQA BMP Guidance Manuals at www.cabmphandbooks.com.
What is not allowed
Only stormwater and specifically authorized discharges are allowed into the storm drain system. All other discharges are prohibited unless covered by a separate State permit.
For example, discharging wash water from power washing parking lots, cleaning trash enclosures, or washing floor mats into the storm drain system is not allowed.
Resources and more information
Under the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination section of the State’s General Permit for MS4s, the City is required to effectively prohibit, through ordinance, non-stormwater discharges into the MS4. In addition, the City is required to implement appropriate enforcement procedures and actions to carry out the mandates of the ordinance. The General Permit allows the City to evaluate the following non-stormwater discharges and exempt them from regulation only if they are not significant contributors of pollutants to local waterways. As such, the following discharges, when properly handled, are currently not considered significant contributors of pollutants to the City's stormwater system:
- Water line flushing
- Diverted stream flows
- Rising ground waters
- Uncontaminated ground water infiltration to separate storm sewers
- Uncontaminated pumped ground water
- Discharges from potable water sources
- Foundation drains
- Air conditioning condensation
- Springs
- Water from crawl space pumps
- Footing drains
- Individual residential car washing
- Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands
- Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges
- Flows from fire fighting activities
- Incidental runoff from landscaped areas
The Stormwater Management Program will respond to reported violations in Roseville. Contact Environmental Utilities Waste Services Division at (916) 774-5780 or email stormwater@roseville.ca.us to report any stormwater violations or concerns.
Please contact the City's Industrial Waste Section at (916) 746-1882 to determine proper disposal options of polluted effluents.