Proposed Regional Stormwater Permit: What It Means for Riverside

PROPOSED STORMWATER PERMIT

The Santa Ana Water Board is preparing to adopt a new Regional Stormwater Permit that would regulate all cities and counties in the Santa Ana watershed—including Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties—under a single, uniform set of requirements. This represents a major shift from past, county‑specific permits.

Under the proposed rules, the City of Riverside may need as much as $2.32 billion over the next 20 years to build stormwater capture and treatment projects, plus $42 million per year to operate and maintain them. Countywide, the estimated cost equates to $497 per resident per year for 20 years.

Why This Matters

• Substantial new costs without identified funding or assurances that the required projects will result in measurable water‑quality improvements.
• Expanded regulatory obligations that increase legal and operational risk if compliance proves unattainable.
• Limited time for cities and the public to fully evaluate the requirements and communicate concerns before adoption.

Potential Impacts on Residents

• Stormwater compliance would draw from the same City funds used for public safety, road repair, parks, recreation, and essential services.
• Meeting the permit’s obligations would likely require identifying new funding sources.
• Households may experience indirect effects as the City balances limited resources across competing priorities.

Potential Impacts on Local Businesses

• City funding redirected to stormwater requirements may limit investments in business‑supporting services and infrastructure.
• A wider range of development and redevelopment projects would be required to incorporate water‑quality protection features and plans for their approval.

HOW TO SHARE FEEDBACK

A Note to the Community

The City of Riverside is committed to protecting water quality and complying with state requirements. At the same time, the scale of the proposed permit may affect core City services, local businesses, and household budgets. By understanding these potential impacts, residents and business owners can determine how the draft permit may affect them and decide whether they wish to express their perspectives to the State.

For more information on regional watershed protection efforts the City of Riverside participates in, visit: Riverside County Watershed Protection.