The Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) Pretreatment Program operates under the Environmental Compliance Division of the City of Palo Alto Public Works Department.
The program issues permits to dischargers located in Palo Alto, the East Palo Alto Sanitary District service area, Los Altos, and the town of Los Altos Hills. The program also permits and regulates the discharge from Stanford University.
The Program monitors the industrial waste discharge activities of approximately 110 permitted industries. The Program also monitors and inspects small commercial dischargers such as restaurants, photoprocessors, automotive service facilities, and machine shops. The program has been involved with identification and reduction of pollutant sources to both sanitary sewer and storm water collection systems from industrial facilities, commercial establishments, and residential activities.
Permit Issuance
Discharge of certain types of wastewater to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) requires a discharge permit. In Palo Alto this requirement is specified in chapter 16.09.020 of the City's Municipal Code.
New applicants must submit a permit application to the RWQCP at least 90 days prior to the proposed commencement of discharge. Permit renewal applications must be filed at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit. Normally, permits are issued within 90 days of the receipt of the application, with the exception of septic hauler and reclaimed water permits. These permits are usually issued the same day that the application is filed.
The RWQCP accepts electronic permit filing. However, a signed copy of the permit application, with all required plans and blue prints, must be received before a permit can be issued. The applications must be mailed to the RWQCP at 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Reports
The industrial waste program provides annual and quarterly reports to the Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit.
Forms
Many of the industrial waste program forms are available here in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The files can be downloaded, data fields can be completed, and the forms can be printed out or e-mailed.
Storm Water
The program also conducts storm water related inspections at these facilities as well as responding to over 100 storm water related incidents each year.
Municipal Code
