CC - Item 8B - Water Quality/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program Overviewr
■ A' CITY COUNCIE
STAFF REP0
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TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER
DATE: JUNE 28, 2011
SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY /NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE
ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PROGRAM OVERVIEW
SUMMARY
Several segments of the Los Angeles River (LA River) and its tributaries were identified
as impaired water bodies per §303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act. As such, the US
Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) via the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional
Board) were directed to prepare clean up plans — called Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDLs) — for affected waters. TMDLs attempt to eliminate water quality impairments
within a certain amount of time. These TMDLs contain requirements for studies,
monitoring and the development of programs to attain TMDL contaminant reduction
targets over multi -year periods and are incorporated into the National NPDES Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. TMDLs are anticipated to be quite costly
to implement, and could have significant potential impacts on the City's financial
resources.
Since 1991, . the City of Rosemead has participated as co- permitees with Los Angeles
County and 84 cities under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. Since that time, the
City has actively participated with cities in the region to adopt practices to address water
quality issues. Most recently, the City has developed plans to install inserts and
connector pipe screens on catch basins to prevent trash and other pollutants from
entering local waters.
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report and provide input on
further work efforts related to water quality projects in the City.
DISCUSSION
Background
In order to understand the NPDES MS4 Permit and current storm water issues facing
cities, it is important to review the history of clean water activities. Some key dates and
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:
City Council Meeting
June 28, 2011
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events include the following:
• Initial MS4 Permit — 1991
o Permit issued to LA County and 84 cities (including Rosemead)
0 5 year permit period duration
o Contained 13 Best Management Practices to address water quality issues
• MS4 Permit Renewal — 1996
o Required the County /Cities to develop a storm water management plan
(SWMP) for LA County
o Implementation of SWMP activities
0 5 year permit period duration
• Clean Water Act Lawsuit — 1999
• The National Resources Defense Council sued the USEPA over a little
understood provision of the Clean Water Act known as Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs)
• Required the EPA to establish maximum daily levels of pollutants that
could be discharged to a waterway
• Settlement called for the EPA to prepare 135 TMDLs within California by
2011
• Set in motion costly clean water activities causing the cost of NPDES
program to skyrocket
• MS4 Permit Renewal - 2001
• Permit remained largely unchanged from previous permit
• Required commercial /industrial businesses to improve operations by
implementing activities to reduce pollutant discharges
• Implementation of TMDLs
• New Permit - 2011/12
• Expected implementation of new permit in mid 2012
• Possible implementation of individual permits for cities instead of
cooperative approach
• Continued Implementation of TMDLs
City Activities Related to TMDLs
While Rosemead is not directly adjacent to the LA River, we are adjacent to other water
bodies that flow into it (including the Rio Hondo River and Alhambra Wash). Because
the LA River's impairments involve pollutants from throughout the watershed, the duty
to adhere to the TMDLs applies to many agencies like us that are within the watershed.
In accordance with mandated activities, the City has continued its participation in efforts
related to the MS4 Permit and implementation of TMDLs. Each year, the City (assisted
City Council Meeting
June 28, 2011
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by Elroy Kiepke with Willdan Engineering), completes an annual report of water quality
efforts. This includes participation in stakeholder meetings, funding contributions to
public outreach efforts led by LA County, and funding contributions towards required
TMDL activities. The City currently budgets $50,000 annually to complete these
activities (membership dues for the Coalition for Practical Regulation, preparation of
MS4 Annual Report, staff training for City employees, MS4 permit costs, and expert
consultant assistance).
Over the foreseeable future, the City will be faced with ever increasing mandates
related to TMDL and water quality efforts. A brief summary includes the following:
• Trash TMDL Implementation
• By 2016, cities must install capture devices to eliminate trash discharges
to water sources.
• City has developed a 6 year phased program to install inserts and
connector pipe screens on 762 catch basins in the City
• 15t Phase of program will begin in summer 2011
• Annual Cost (Construction): $50 -75K per year through 2016
($500 per catch basin)
• Annual Cost (Maintenance): $300K by 2016
($400 per catch basin)
• Metals TMDL Studies /Implementation
• City is participating in a joint effort with 32 other cities to study metal
discharges to water sources.
• City will expend over $25K over the next 3 years to complete studies and
monitoring on metal levels found in the LA River
• By 2028, cities must fully comply with requirements to eliminate metal
discharges to water sources.
• Annual Cost (Studies): $15K per year for next 3 years
• Annual Cost (Implementation): Not Known at this time
• Bacteria TMDL Implementation
• Not yet implemented — Regional Board expected to implement in summer
2012
• Will involve the interception of flow in storm drains and conveyance to
treatment facilities
• Potential Cost is estimated between $5 Million and $12 Million
initially and $150K annually for treatment costs
Given these mandated water quality activities and their potential financial impacts, the
City will continue to advocate for cost - effective ways to address water quality. A brief
presentation on these issues will be reviewed with the City Council and staff will
continue to provide updates on water quality issues as they become available.
City Council Meeting
June 28, 2011
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
There is currently $75,000 budgeted towards water quality, MS4, and TMDL issues.
Additional funds are budgeted in the CIP budget for the installation of inserts and
connector pipe screens on catch basins. For the foreseeable future, costs are
anticipated to significantly increase for mandated water quality efforts.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared By:
Lucien J. Le Blanc, P. E.
City Engineer
Submitted By:
Chris Marcarello
Director of Public Works