Agricultural Discharge Regulations
Over the past few years there have been new regulations placed upon many of the Districts customers with regards to water quality. The Regional Water Quality Control Board is responsible for establishing water quality regulations for all types of discharges. They have recently established two regulatory programs related to agricultural discharges to local waterways.
Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
The Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (also known as the Ag Waiver) requires any grower who discharges water from their property to comply with the conditions of the program. This can be accomplished by either joining a coalition group or individually monitoring the discharges from their property and reporting the results to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Many growers have chosen to join a coalition group to obtain coverage under the law.
The East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition is the local group who represents growers under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program in the TID service area. The coalition performs monitoring and reporting for its members. For more information on the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition, please visit its website.
Information on the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program and related documents can be found on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s website.
Dairy Waste Discharge Requirements
In 2007 the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted the Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for Existing Milk Cow Dairies which places specific requirements on dairies in the Central Valley. If you operate a dairy within the Turlock Irrigation District and are in need of irrigation water quality or other information needed to comply with the General Order, please contact Keith Larson at (209) 883-8386.
Documents related to confined animal facilities including dairies can be found on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s website.