LADWP’s Upcoming Stormwater Incentive Program for Industrial Facilities Provides $1,100 and $1,500 per acre-foot Rebates for Infiltration and Onsite Use

The Los Angeles Department of Public Works (LADWP) is in the process of implementing a Stormwater Incentive Program for infiltration and onsite use of stormwater from industrial facilities. LADWP will provide rebates of $1,100 per acre-foot for infiltration and $1,550 per acre-foot for onsite use to industrial facilities. This incentive may help mitigate the cost of compliance with the changes coming to the Industrial General Permit (IGP) that may require expensive site renovations.

Mayor Garcetti’s Sustainable City pLAn Local Water goals include reducing the dependency on imported water by developing the local water supply. Importing water is costly, and by having a local source, it will be locally controlled. Capturing stormwater creates a new water source for the city and can provide environmental benefits to the local community. To support the pLAn objectives, LADWP held a stakeholder meeting to communicate the program development to incentivize stormwater infiltration or capture from industrial facilities. This program is a water supply initiative, not necessarily a water quality or compliance initiative. LADWP will not be taking part in the enforcement of water quality for this program. Water quality will continue to be overseen by each regional water board as applicable.
    
​All facilities that are regulated by the IGP and within LADWP’s service area are eligible to apply for the incentive program. The following are requirements and conditions for approval into the program:

• Parcel Ownership/Authority must be current with water bills and taxes.
• Complete Stormwater Capture Incentive Program application and provide project plan. (NOTE: This application is not an approval for infrastructure but will help LADWP verify compliance to what is stated to be captured.)
• Enter into agreement with LADWP and comply with terms.
• Possibly install a flow meter, which will be subject to inspection and verification.
• Provide access to stormwater infrastructure for testing, inspection, and observation regarding maintenance, repair, and replacement.
• All information submitted to LADWP is considered public information.

    
In developing the cost structure, LADWP evaluated the following BMPs (Best Management Practices):

1. Recharge basin (non-infiltration)
2. Recharge basin (filtration soils)
3. Treatment injection
4. Capture/re-use
5. Flow-through treatment (active)
6. Flow-through treatment (natural)

    
The final strategic plan is targeted to be completed early 2018.

Our water resources team helps our clients overcome complex compliance challenges. To learn more, please give us a call at 888-608-3010 or email our water resources experts:

David Renfrew, QISP/ToR, QSD, CPSWQ, PMP, can be reached via email at david.renfrew@altaenviron.com. 

Garth Engelhorn, QISP/ToR, CPSWQ, can be reached via email at garth.engelhorn@altaenviron.com

Blog post by Katie Aleckson, Alta Intern.


Sources

1. Castro. A. (2017). Stormwater Incentive Program for Industrial Facilities Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.ladwp.com/cs/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=OPLADWPCCB631019&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased
2. The pLAn. (2017). Local Water. Retrieved from http://plan.lamayor.org/portfolio/local-water/
3. Villegas, R. (2017). Strategic Program to Incentivize Industrial Stormwater Capture [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from  https://vimeo.com/ladwp/stormwaterincentive