NDPES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The NPDES program was created as part of the Federal Clean Water Act Amendments of 1992. The Clean Water Act requires that all local government agencies and major private industries take all practicable measures in reducing pollution discharges into major bodies of water, such as the Dominguez Channel, Los Angeles River, and the Pacific Ocean. The City's current NPDES permit covers Los Angeles County Flood Control District, the County of Los Angeles, and 84 incorporated cities.
The current Permit was negotiated in September of 2001 between the County of Los Angeles (Principal Permittee), the 86 local jurisdictions (co-permittees) and the
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Under the Permit, the County and all local governments within Los Angeles County must take certain measures to control and prevent urban runoff and storm water pollution. One of the measures is implementing and promoting the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for storm water pollution prevention. Refer to this list of BMP brochures available for a wide variety of industrial, commercial and residential practices.
