California Water - General: What you need to know

Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act of 1970, California Water Code (CWC) 13000 to 14958

Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65), California Health & Safety Code (CH & SC) 25249.5 to 25249.13

California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs)

California Department of Health Services (DHS) Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management

California Coastal Commission (CCC)

California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Habitat Conservation Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) San Francisco District Office Sacramento District Office Los Angeles District Office

United States Coast Guard (USCG)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act of 1970 is the primary mechanism that California utilizes to manage wastewater discharges and protect public water supplies in the state.

California is fully authorized to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for wastewater dischargers. The state generally follows federal standards for most effluent discharges and has procedures for obtaining wastewater discharge variances. See the national section NPDES PERMIT for additional information about the federal requirements.

Comprehensive rules and regulations that have been developed by the state control management of activities in both coastal and inland wetlands. For additional ...