Construction

The City has incorporated the model construction program described in the Drainage Area Management Plan (DAMP) and low-impact development (LID). This construction program presents requirements and guidelines for pollution prevention methods that must be used by construction site owners, developers, contractors, and other responsible parties to:

  • Prevent illicit discharges into the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)
  • Implement and maintain structural and non-structural BMPs to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff from construction sites to the MS4
  • Reduce construction site discharges of stormwater pollutants from the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable (MEP)
  • Prevent construction site discharges from the MS4 from causing or contributing to a violation of water quality standards

Requirements

General Construction Permit 

Dischargers whose projects disturb one or more acres of soil or whose projects disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs one or more acres are required to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ (PDF). Construction activity subject to this permit includes clearing, grading, and disturbances to the ground, such as stockpiling or excavation, but does not include regular maintenance activities performed to restore the original line, grade, or capacity of the facility

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

The General Construction Permit requires the development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (DOC) by a certified Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD). Many California Board of Professional Engineers and Geologists (CBPELSG) have self-certified. In addition, the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) has a lookup tool to find licensed QSDs: CASQA QSD/QSP Lookup Tool

General Guidelines

The Orange County Storm Water Program Construction Runoff Guidance Manual (PDF) is intended to enable applicants for building or grading permits to understand and comply with the regulatory requirements during the construction. The manual is a guide to help understand which permits and ordinances apply to construction projects. Contractors may use this Manual as a guide to the Best Management Practices typically needed to be implemented at a construction site to ensure compliance
with the Construction General Permit (CGP) and local ordinances.

Construction Temporary BMP

Erosion Control (EC)

  1. EC-1 Scheduling (PDF)
  2. EC-2 Preservation Of Existing Vegetation (PDF)
  3. EC-3 Hydraulic Mulch (PDF)
  4. EC-4 Hydroseeding (PDF)
  5. EC-5 Soil Binders (PDF)
  6. EC-6 Straw Mulch (PDF)
  7. EC-7 Geotextiles and Mats (PDF)
  8. EC-8 Wood Mulching (PDF)
  1. EC-9 Earth Dikes and Drainage Swales (PDF)
  2. EC-10 Velocity Dissipation (PDF)
  3. EC-11 Slope Drains (PDF)
  4. EC-12 Streambank Stabilization (PDF)
  5. EC-13 Reserved (PDF)
  6. EC-14 Compost Blanket (PDF)
  7. EC-15 Soil Preparation/Roughening (PDF)
  8. EC-16 Non-Vegetative Stabilization (PDF)

Sediment Control (SC)

  1. SE-1 Silt Fence (PDF)
  2. SE-2 Sediment Basin (PDF)
  3. SE-3 Sediment Trap (PDF)
  4. SE-4 Check Dams (PDF)
  5. SE-5 Fiber Rolls (PDF)
  6. SE-6 Gravel Bag Berm (PDF)
  7. SE-7 Street Sweeping and Vacuuming (PDF)
  1. SE-8 Sandbag Barrier (PDF)
  2. SE-9 Straw Bale Barrier (PDF)
  3. SE-10 Storm Drain Inlet Protection (PDF)
  4. SE-11 Active Treatment Systems (PDF)
  5. SE-12 Manufactured Linear Sediment Controls (PDF)
  6. SE-13 Compost Socks and Berms (PDF)
  7. SE-14 Biofilter Bags (PDF)

Tracking Control (TC)

  1. TC-1 Stabilized Construction Entrance/Exit (PDF)
  2. TC-2 Stabilized Construction Roadway (PDF)
  1. TC-3 Entrance/Outlet Tire Wash (PDF)

Wind Erosion Control (WE)

  1. WE-1 Wind Erosion Control (PDF)

Non-Storm Water Management (NS)

  1. NS-1 Water Conservation Practices (PDF)
  2. NS-2 Dewatering Operations(PDF)
  3. NS-3 Paving and Grinding Operations (PDF)
  4. NS-4 Temporary Stream Crossing (PDF)
  5. NS-5 Clear Water Diversion (PDF)
  6. NS-6 Illicit Connection/Discharge (PDF)
  7. NS-7 Potable Water/Irrigation (PDF)
  8. NS-8 Vehicle and Equipment Cleaning (PDF)
  1. NS-9 Vehicle and Equipment Fueling (PDF)
  2. NS-10 Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance (PDF)
  3. NS-11 Pile Driving Operations (PDF)
  4. NS-12 Concrete Curing (PDF)
  5. NS-13 Concrete Finishing (PDF)
  6. NS-14 Material Over Water (PDF)
  7. NS-15 Demolition Adjacent to Water (PDF)

Waste Management (WM)

  1. WM-1 Material Delivery and Storage (PDF)
  2. WM-2 Material Use (PDF)
  3. WM-3 Stockpile Management (PDF)
  4. WM-4 Spill Prevention and Control (PDF)
  5. WM-5 Solid Waste Management (PDF)
  1. WM-6 Hazardous Waste Management (PDF)
  2. WM-7 Contaminated Soil Management (PDF)
  3. WM-8 Concrete Waste Management (PDF)
  4. WM-9 Sanitary/Septic Waste Management (PDF)
  5. WM-10 Liquid Waste Management (PDF)