Merced, CA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

50, the Storm Water Management and Discharge Control chapter adopted by Ordinance No. 2439 to implement the city's Phase II MS4 NPDES permit and the federal Clean Water Act, sets Merced's basic stormwater rule. Sec. 12 of this Code, for any person to make or cause to be made any non-storm water discharge' into the storm drain system, except for the narrow list of exemptions in Sec. 060, such as water line flushing, air conditioning condensation, and individual residential car washing. Even an otherwise exempt discharge loses its exemption under Sec.

050(B) if the Regional Water Quality Control Board or the city's enforcement official finds it violates the storm water permit or endangers public health. Sec. 090 separately bans illicit physical connections to the storm drain system, including sewage lines, regardless of when they were installed. Anyone who owns or occupies property and learns of a pollutant release that might reach the storm drains must act immediately: Sec. ' The director of public works or city engineer enforces the chapter, and Sec. 165 lets the enforcement official order emergency abatement, requiring cleanup of spills or illicit discharges within 72 hours of notification, or sooner for high-risk spills, and abatement of uncontrolled pollutant sources within 30 days. Violations under Sec. 185 are misdemeanors, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense.