EWA implements a Source Control Program as promulgated under the federal Clean Water Act.  The purpose of this program is to control the discharge of pollutants from industries in order to: prevent interference in treatment plant operations; protect the collection system; ensure compliance with EWA’s ocean discharge permit; protect the health and safety of the public, and collection system and plant personnel; and ensure wastewater solids and plant effluent can be recycled.

Regulated industries are issued wastewater discharge permits that limit the amount of pollutants they can discharge.  If they cannot meet the discharge standards, they are required to install pretreatment equipment to reduce the level of pollutants.  Source Control Program staff conduct at least annual inspections of each industry and quarterly sampling of their effluent to determine if they are in compliance with their permit.   Enforcement actions are taken in response to noncompliance and may include: issuing a Notice of Violation with fines; requiring the installation of additional pretreatment equipment; increasing the frequency of monitoring; suspending an industry’s discharge permit; and terminating sewer service.

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board conducts annual audits of EWA’s Source Control Program.  Audit findings state that EWA’s Program is “consistent with USEPA regulations and appears to be an effective program.”  This is further demonstrated by the fact that there were no violations of EWA’s ocean discharge permit that were caused by industrial dischargers.