LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeWater CodeDiv. 7Ch. 5.5§ 13376 Pollutant Discharge Reporting Requirements

§ 13376 Pollutant Discharge Reporting Requirements

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 13376 Pollutant Discharge Reporting Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If you want to put dirty stuff or waste into rivers or lakes, you have to tell the government first.
  • •You must tell them at least 180 days before you start if you plan to dump waste or run a sewage treatment plant.
  • •If you already run a sewage plant that started before 1988, you have to tell them within 45 days if they ask you to.
  • •You can't dump waste or run a sewage plant without permission, unless the government says you don't need to ask.

Example

A factory wants to release treated water into a nearby river.

The factory must tell the government 180 days before they start releasing the water. If they don't, they could get in trouble.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 13376 Pollutant Discharge Reporting Requirements

A person who discharges pollutants or proposes to discharge pollutants to the navigable waters of the United States within the jurisdiction of this state or a person who discharges dredged or fill material or proposes to discharge dredged or fill material into the navigable waters of the United States within the jurisdiction of this state shall file a report of the discharge in compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 13260. Unless required by the state board or a regional board, a report need not be filed under this section for discharges that are not subject to the permit application requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended. A person who proposes to discharge pollutants or dredged or fill material or to operate a publicly owned treatment works or other treatment works treating domestic sewage shall file a report at least 180 days in advance of the date on which it is desired to commence the discharge of pollutants or dredged or fill material or the operation of the treatment works. A person who owns or operates a publicly owned treatment works or other treatment works treating domestic sewage, which treatment works commenced operation before January 1, 1988, and does not discharge to navigable waters of the United States, shall file a report within 45 days of a written request by a regional board or the state board, or within 45 days after the state has an approved permit program for the use and disposal of sewage sludge, whichever occurs earlier. The discharge of pollutants or dredged or fill material or the operation of a publicly owned treatment works or other treatment works treating domestic sewage by any person, except as authorized by waste discharge requirements or dredged or fill material permits, is prohibited. This prohibition does not apply to discharges or operations if a state or federal permit is not required under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended. (Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 288, Sec. 32. (SB 1169) Effective January 1, 2011.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

treatmentpollutioncompliancecontrol actwastewaterswagedisposal

Related Statutes

  • § 13160.1 Water Quality Certification Fees
  • § 13360 Waste Discharge Compliance Flexibility
  • § 14051 Clean Water Protection Act
  • § 13385 Water Pollution Civil Penalties
  • § 10561 Stormwater Runoff Management

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 13376.
View Official Source