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OC Watersheds Frequently Asked Questions

OC Watersheds receives many questions through the phone hotline and online spill reporting. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact our office directly at 714-955-0600.

Where can I dispose of a waste/hazardous waste item?

There are four locations operated by the County's Integrated Waste Management Department where you can drop off household hazardous waste. The following brochure on our Public Education website contains more information.

Orange County residents can also contact one of four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (HHWCC). For HHWCC locations and hours, call (714)834-6752 or visit http://www.oclandfills.com.

Where can I get information about encroachment permits and/or water quality requirements to satisfy planning approval conditions?

Information regarding Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) requirements and the planning approval process is available at www.ocplanning.net

How can I report a water pollution problem?

By calling the 24 hr. Water Pollution Problem Hotline at 1-877-89-SPILL or filling out a report on the County's website at: Water Pollution Investigations and Spill Abatement Form or dial 911 in the case of an emergency.

How can I report a drainage problem such as trash or debris blocking a stormdrain?

By calling the 24 hr. Street Drain Reporting Problem Hotline at (714) 955-0200 or filling out a report on the County's website at: Operations and Maintenance Service Request

What can I do to prevent urban runoff pollution?

By making small changes to every day activities that generate or impact urban runoff at home or at work, everyone can help prevent urban runoff pollution. Here is a link to several brochures that contain tips and guidelines on how to go about doing this: Public Education

How can I download water quality monitoring data?

Bacteriological monitoring data collected through the Ocean Water Protection Program and administered by the Orange County Health
Care Agency, can be downloaded at the following website: http://ocbeachinfo.com/downloads/data/index.htm

Data on the Orange County Stormwater Program surface water quality monitoring programs can be obtained by contacting Bruce Moore
with OC Public Works/OC Watersheds at (714) 955-0600 or by email.

How can I download historical rainfall data?

Both daily rainfall amounts (8 a.m. - 8 a.m) and historical rainfall data can be downloaded from the County's website at:

Data Resources Rainfall Data: Rainfall Data

Real time rainfall amounts during storm events are available at:

Data Resources Storm Data: Storm Data

All other specific rainfall data requests should be submitted to Bruce Moore by phone (714) 955-0600 or email.

Is it OK to drain my pool to the stormdrain system?

Under certain circumstances and in certain locations, it is legal to drain your pool to the stormdrain system if a permitted connection to the sanitary sewer system from the pool has not been installed. Consult the following brochure for more information and be sure to check with your city before discharging: Public Education

Is it OK to wash my car in the driveway?

It is preferable from an environmental standpoint to take your car to a professional car washing facility, where the water is contained, treated and recycled. Car washing at your home is, however, allowed in most cities but may be restricted by home owner association regulations, so be sure to check with your association. If you decide to wash your vehicle at home, try to minimize runoff by diverting the runoff to landscaped areas or using waterless washing systems. Try to use as little soap as possible and avoid using degreasers and other chemical products that can be toxic to aquatic life. Consult the following brochure for more information: Public Education

Is it OK to use a mobile detailer to wash my car?

Wash water from mobile detailing is prohibited from entering the stormdrain system. A fact sheet has been developed with answers on how mobile detailers can handle their runoff and is available at: Industrial Commercial Businesses Activities

How do I know if it is safe to enter the water?

The County's Health Care Agency/Environmental Health administers the Clean Ocean Program in Orange County. When bacteria levels in ocean and bay waters exceed health standards, or when an immediate health hazard is identified, the beaches are posted with signs. For your convenience, you can also call the Ocean & Bay Closure and Warning Hotline at (714)433-6400 for the latest status on ocean and bay closures, warnings and advisories in Orange County.

What water quality monitoring is conducted in Orange County and how is the data used?

Water quality monitoring is conducted for compliance reporting in response to NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Municipal Stormwater Permits and TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Programs. The data are used for a variety of purposes including (1) evaluating the impacts of urban runoff on the beneficial uses (e.g. aquatic habitat, water contact recreation, etc.) of receiving waters (creeks, rivers, lakes, harbors, bays, marshes, and the Pacific Ocean), (2) tracking trends in water quality, (3) identifying illegal discharges or illicit connections to the stormdrain system, and (4) assessing compliance with TMDL targets. Annual compliance reports containing the NPDES monitoring data can be found in Section 11 of the Unified Progress Reports at: DAMP_PEA Reports

Please click here for the the annual reports containing the TMDL data.

What is a TMDL and why is it important to me?

Orange County has a number of creeks, bay and beaches that have water quality impairments limiting habitat and recreational uses of the waterbody. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a regulatory process that is intended to identify the causes of the problem, reduce pollutant loading and restore these uses. In many cases urban activities are a significant contributor to impairment, so it is important for all of us to take actions to reduce our impact on water quality. Brochures that contain tips and guidelines on how to go about doing this are available at Public Education Website

The water coming out of my tap tastes funny. Can you test it?

Contact your local water purveyor regarding this matter.

My child is doing a science fair project on the environment. What resources are available to my child to assist in selecting a
project and then completing it?

OC Watersheds website at www.ocwatersheds.com has a lot of information on water quality that could serve as the basis of a meaningful project. Similarly, the State Water Resources Control Board and its Regional Boards have information at www.swrcb.ca.gov and the United States Environmental Protection Agency has information at www.epa.gov. To discuss a particular project in Orange County please contact Bruce Moore by phone at (714) 955-0600 or by email.