At UC Merced, protecting storm water has been a priority since the campus planning stages. Storm water is collected and carried away from buildings and into the nearby ponds and lakes via the storm drain system. Storm drains are located outside and are designed and constructed to collect and transport storm water only.
The storm drain systems at UC Merced are regulated by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB). UC Merced operates under a permit for Non-Traditional Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), issued by the State Water Resources Control Board.
MS4 Permit
Under the MS4 permit, UC Merced implements the following provisions: Program Management Element, Education and Outreach Program, Public Involvement and Participation Program, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program, Construction Site Runoff Control Program,
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Permittee Operations Program, Post Construction Storm Water Management Program, and Program Effectiveness Assessment and Improvement.
The Storm Water Management Program ensures that the campus is fulfilling the requirements of its General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. In doing so, the program ensures both legal compliance as well as environmental sustainability.
Reporting Non-Storm Water Discharges
Anything that enters a storm drain that is not composed entirely of storm water is a non-storm water discharge (e.g., irrigation water runoff, clean tap water). Report non-storm water discharges into UC Merced storm drains to the EH&S Environmental Programs Manager.
Rules, Regulations, and Policies
- Storm Water Program Ordinance
- Clean Water Act
