Operating within the law
The Bear Valley Water District is subject to numerous environmental regulations designed to protect the waters that sustain our lives, the land we live on and the air we breathe. Compliance with environmental regulations is a fundamental part of our mission, and the District takes pride in its outstanding record of performance. The District is regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board under three separate permits, as well as the Federal Clean Water Act.
Clean Water Act
The District, along with all wastewater treatment agencies, is regulated by the state and federal government under a strict set of laws generally established under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), passed in 1972. Important amendments added in 1977 further regulate wastewater treatment.
Wastewater discharge permits
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board regulates the treatment and disposal of wastewater for the District through two different permits. Order 5-01-208 regulates the treatment and disposal of treated effluent applied exclusively to land. The District's NPDES permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) regulates the treatment and disposal of treated effluent discharged to surface waters, specifically Bloods Creek.
Collection system permit
In 2023, the State Water Resources Control Board updated the general order for sanitary sewer systems, which applies to all wastewater collection systems with more than one mile of collection lines throughout the state. This permit is intended to minimize sanitary sewer overflows (spills) from collection systems through requirements stipulating the proper operation and maintenance of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities.
Looking for a specific permit or compliance record? Call the District at 209.753.2112 or submit a public records request.
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