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Stormwater Management

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Program Overview

The City’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) consists of gutters, inlets, catch basins and channels. Most of the storm water navigates through the MS4 before finally draining into the Whitewater Channel. The MS4 is intended to route storm water quickly from the streets through its drains. However, during a heavy storm, the MS4 also collects urban run-off as it routes this water. Pollutants such as chemicals, trash and debris from lawns, parking lots and streets, either intentionally or accidentally spilled, are drained into the Whitewater Channel; which is ultimately absorbed into our groundwater.

The most common storm water pollutants in Cathedral City are generated from daily activities. These pollutants are picked up as water (from rain, hoses, sprinklers, etc.) drains from streets, parking lots, and lawns and enters the Whitewater Channel untreated. Simply, anything dumped or spilled on the ground and drain into the gutters contributes to storm water pollution.

Program Details

The City's Storm Water Management Program includes, but is not limited to:

Assisting the development community in plan review so they comply with post-construction Water Quality Management Plan requirements
Conducting outreach and public education
Eliminating illegal discharges
Identifying pollutant sources
Inspecting businesses and construction sites
Monitoring water quality
Promoting Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Best Management Practices for Home Occupation and Mobile Businesses that Generate Storm Water:

The water that flows into storm drains should not contain wash water or pollutants like metals, dirt, carpet fibers, toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances generated by home occupation businesses. If these pollutants are not properly contained and cleaned up right away, they can run off into the storm drain and harm local waterways. The following educational pamphlets provide guidance on best management practices:

References

City of Cathedral City’s Storm Water Ordinance: This Ordinance (CCMC Title 15.10) outlines the City's NPDES requirements in accordance with the NPDES MS4 Permit.
Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP): The Storm Water Management Plan acts as the City's standard operating procedures (SOP) for managing runoff to comply with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) MS4 Permit.
NPDES MS4 Permit: This Permit outlines the City's water quality requirements mandated by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region.
Stormwater Best Management Practices Handbooks: The City adopted these handbooks as BMP standards for new developments, construction sites, industrial and commercial businesses, and municipal activities.

For more information, please visit the Riverside County Flood Control website.

Illicit Discharge Detection

The focus of the illicit discharge detection and elimination program is to detect and eliminate illicit discharges, including spills and illegal dumping. In addition, the City must identify and address significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4, implement appropriate enforcement procedures and actions, and develop a storm sewer system inventory and overall map showing all outfalls and associated conveyances. The final program goal is to inform employees, businesses, and the general public of hazards associated with illegal discharges, illegal connections to storm drains, and improper disposal of waste.

Illicit Discharge 2 Illicit Discharge 3 Illicit Discharge 1

The City developed and adopted an ordinance to prohibit illegal connections and illicit discharges to the storm sewer system, which is included in the City’s Municipal Code, Chapter 15.16, adopted in 1997.

Illicit discharges enter the system through either direct connections (e.g., wastewater piping either mistakenly or deliberately connected to the storm drains) or indirect connections (e.g., infiltration into the MS4 from cracked sanitary systems, spills collected by drain outlets, or paint or used oil dumped directly into a drain). The result is untreated discharges that contribute high levels of pollutants, including heavy metals, toxics, oil and grease, solvents, nutrients, viruses, and bacteria to receiving waterbodies. Pollutant levels from these illicit discharges have been shown in EPA studies to be high enough to significantly degrade receiving water quality and threaten aquatic, wildlife, and human health.

Report Pollution

If you need to report an issue regarding nuisance water and/or illegal dumping, please use the following links:

Drinking Water (Water Treatment and Distribution System)

Desert Water Agency
(760) 323-4971
Coachella Valley Water District
1 (800) 262-2651

Water Wasters (Non conservation of drinking water)

Desert Water Agency
(760) 323-4971
Coachella Valley Water District
1 (800) 262-2651

Wastewater (Raw sewage spills)

Coachella Valley Water District
(760) 398-2651
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
(888) 722-4234 or after hours (951) 782-2968

Storm Water (Storm drains, illegal dumping in drains, retention ponds)

Cathedral City Code Compliance
(760) 770-0309

Illegal Dumping (Trash in street or Parkway)

Cathedral City Code Compliance
(760) 770-0309

Solid Waste Disposal (Reuse, Reduce and Recycle Waste)

Recycling, Refuse Disposal Services and Energy Programs
(760) 770-0369

Air Quality (Odor, smoke or dust)

South Coast Air Quality Management District
1 (800) 288-7664

Pesticide Applications (Pesticide Use Enforcement)

Riverside County Division of Weights and Measures
(951) 955-3030

Toxic Substances (Illegal dumping of chemicals)

Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
(888) 722-4234 or after hours (951) 782-2968

Environmental Health (Drinking Water, Hazardous Materials, Solid Waste)

Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
(888) 722-4234 or after hours (951) 782-2968
Department of Toxic Substances Control
(800) 698-6942

California Vector Control District (Mosquito Abatement)

Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District
(760) 342-8287 or (888) 343-9399

Illicit Discharge FAQ's

What is an illicit discharge?

The municipal stormwater permits define an illicit discharge as discharge into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Illicit discharges may be deliberate or mistaken, direct or indirect. Generally, illicit discharges fit one of the following categories:

Non-stormwater connections to the stormwater conveyance system including sewage and industrial wastewater.
Non-stormwater illegal discharges, dumping and improper disposal, including:

Discharges from potable water sources, including water line flushing, hyper-chlorinated water line flushing, fire hydrant system flushing, and pipeline hydrostatic test water.
Discharges from lawn watering and other irritation runoff (except agricultural runoff).
Swimming pool water that has not been de-chlorinated, cleaning wastewater and filter backwash.
Street and sidewalk wash water, water used to control dust, and routine external building wash down,
Un-permitted de-watering water.

Spills which must be cleaned up, are incidental and short-lived, and are of a substance that has the potential to compromise water quality.

Under what conditions do the municipal storm water permits require specific notification and/or reporting?

Three kinds of situations require notification and reporting to California Emergency Management
Agency:

Illicit discharges into the M54 that present a severe or imminent threat to human health or the environment.
Discharges from the M54 that may cause or contribute to an imminent threat to human health or the environment or that are causing or contributing to a violation of water quality standard.
Illicit discharges that do not present severe or imminent threats to human health or the environment, and do not cause the MS4’s discharge to contribute to a violation of water quality standards.

How do I report a spill into my MS4 that presents a severe or imminent threat to human health or the environment? (G3)

Immediately, but no later than 24 hours after obtaining the knowledge, contact the City of Cathedral City at the below given numbers:

Cathedral City Dispatch: (760) 770-0303

Cathedral City Public Works Division: (760) 729-9405

Please be prepared to answer the following questions or to leave this information for voice mail messages.

Time & Date
Location
Who caused the is discharge (name if possible)
What is being discharged (if able to identify)
Volume of Discharge
License of Vehicle, Vicinity of Discharge or Nearest Address.

For all spills, we must retain records of the incident and associated response actions. The City must report that information in our Municipal Stormwater Annual Report and upon request.

To report all other stormwater incidents, please visit the Report Pollution page.

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