Central Valley Water Regulations

Quick Guide to Resources/Links

GOT HELP?

Central valley dairy producers are facing some of the toughest new environmental water regulation ever. Don’t panic, the CDQAP will be offering training workshops and other assistance every step of the way.

Below is a brief summary of what will be required of producers over the coming months and years, with links to resources and more information.

On June 29, 2007 the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board 5, or RB-5) sent certified mail to California’s central valley producers containing the new water quality regulations required of all existing central valley dairies.

The new water regulations (called Waste Discharge Requirements or WDRs) were adopted on May 3, 2007 and apply to all existing dairy facilities within RB-5’s boundaries (regardless of size, age or ownership).

The new regulations total 128 pages and are quite comprehensive. Rather than requiring dairies to implement the entire WDR in a single year, however, RB-5 is allowing producers to implement the permit in stages with “deliverables” (mostly reports) to be submitted to the regional board over the 5-year life of the permit.