A variety of pollutants are washed from roadways, parking lots, commercial properties, and neighborhoods into city streets and storm drains. The City of Indio/Indio Water Authority has joined with Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the County of Riverside, the Coachella Valley Water District and the cities of Banning, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage for implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Permit (NPDES). Central to this goal is educating businesses and the general public to employ best management practices (BMPs) in their daily activities to prevent water pollution. This challenge is undertaken through the following tasks.

Municipal Maintenance Practices

City maintenance tasks are conducted in a way that minimizes the potential for waste materials generated as a result of maintenance and repair activities from entering the storm drainage system. In addition, municipal maintenance activities reduce the pollutant load into our waterways through street sweeping through an agreement with CVAG, cleaning catch basins and storm lines, leaf pickup, pickup of abandoned waste, and removing material from drainage channels.

Public Education and Outreach

Educating and informing the public is the key in promoting pollution prevention. The City undertakes this challenge through a variety of venues, such as providing information and compliance assistance to businesses, co-sponsoring community events such as Earth Day, distributing informational brochures at City Hall and other facilities, providing volunteer opportunities. For a complete list of outreach activities and resources available to schools, businesses, and residents call 760-391-4129.

Business Inspections and Compliance Assistance

Business inspections consist of evaluating compliance with storm drainage system rules and regulations, prescribing corrective actions, and providing compliance assistance to correct deficiencies and improve pollution prevention efforts. Riverside County conducts inspections of businesses in Indio and the City performs follow-up inspections as needed.

Pollution Incident Investigation and Elimination

Illicit discharges are releases of pollutants to the storm drain in violation of the City of Indio and Indio Water Authority regulations. Illicit discharges are most often identified with improper uses of the storm drainage system and excessive run off to the street of irrigation water. Examples of common illicit discharges to the storm drainage system include the following:

• Sewage
• Motor oil
• Engine coolant
• Fuel
• Paint waste
• Concrete washout
• Construction debris
• Wall compound
• Food waste
• Yard waste
• Medical waste
• Concrete cutting slurry
• Detergents and other cleaning products
• Pressure washing water
• Industrial wastes
• Large volumes of chlorinated water (e.g. swimming pools)

The City responds to calls from the public and to incidents discovered in the course of routine fieldwork. The party responsible for the illicit discharge is responsible for the termination and clean up of the discharge. If the responsible party is unable to mitigate the discharge to the satisfaction of the City, the City completes the cleanup and bills the responsible party for cost of the cleanup. Door hangers are left in the immediate area to inform residents of the incident and encourage reporting of future incidents.

Citizens are strongly encouraged to report pollution and dumping incidents to the City promptly by phone at 760-391-4129 or email indiowater@indio.org.

New Development and Construction Activities

This task requires that all construction projects employ best management practices (BMPs) to prevent materials such as soil, paint waste, mortar, and slurry from entering the public right of way, thereby preventing entry of these materials to the storm drainage system. In addition, earthmoving during the wet season requires that effective erosion and sediment control measures be implemented. These requirements are typically conveyed in project specifications and conditions of approval. Inspectors regularly inspect active sites for compliance with BMPs and erosion control plans.

Another essential component of this task promotes incorporation of pollution prevention controls into site designs in order to reduce the amount of pollutants in runoff, as well as minimize the volume of runoff leaving the site. Impervious surfaces such as paved areas and roofs provide efficient collection points for airborne, vehicular, and other pollutants. A rainstorm can quickly sweep these materials to the street and storm drains. Techniques such as maximizing of open space; designing grass swales for rainwater collection, treatment, and infiltration; routing of roof leaders to landscaped areas; and use of permeable paving blocks to promote infiltration, are a few examples of features that help prevent pollutants from reaching waterways.

More information pertaining to Development and Construction requirements