| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Filing Wastewater Change Petition | wastewater, other | If a water re-use project will decrease the amount of water in a stream or other waterway, the owner of the wastewater treatment plant needs to file a wastewater change petition with the Division of Water Rights (Division). | If a water re-use project will decrease the amount of water in a stream or other waterway | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | CEQA Review Requirement | other | Additionally, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies to non-exempt wastewater change petitions, and the State Water Board must either undertake CEQA review as a lead agency, or review CEQA documents as a responsible agency before making a decision. | Applies to non-exempt wastewater change petitions | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Interagency Consultation and Petition Submission | wastewater | The petitioner must provide a copy of the complete petition package to, and request consultation with, both the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. | When submitting a wastewater change petition | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Protest Response | wastewater | Copies of any protests are given to the right holder who is required to respond. | If protests are filed against the right holder's intent to change their project | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Board Protest Resolution | wastewater | The Board must address protests that have been filed. | If protests are filed | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Geographic Area Policy Compliance | wastewater, other | Projects located in certain geographic areas are required to comply with applicable State Board Policies relevant to processing of a water right change petition. | Projects located in certain geographic areas | high |
| #Q007 | operational | operational | mandatory | Compliance with Petition Orders | wastewater | Project Operation. Once the State Water Board has issued one or more orders approving one or more wastewater change petitions, the owner of the wastewater treatment facility must operate in accordance with the conditions of the order(s). | Once the State Water Board has issued one or more orders approving one or more wastewater change petitions | high |
| #Q008 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Approval for Wastewater Change (Water Code Section 1211) | wastewater | Water Code Section 1211: "(a) Prior to making any change in the point of discharge, place of use, or purpose of use of treated wastewater, the owner of any wastewater treatment plant shall obtain approval of the board for that change. | Prior to making any change in the point of discharge, place of use, or purpose of use of treated wastewater | high |
| #Q009 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Prohibition on Appropriating Dedicated Instream Flows (Water Code Section 1212) | other | Water Code Section 1212: "The board shall not grant any permit or license to any person other than the treated waste water producer for the appropriation of treated waste water where the producer has introduced such water into the watercourse with the prior stated intention of maintaining or enhancing fishery, wildlife, recreational, or other instream beneficial uses. Holders of existing water rights may not use or claim such water." | Where the producer has introduced treated wastewater into the watercourse with the prior stated intention of maintaining or enhancing instream beneficial uses | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | operational | recommended | Pre-consultation Coordination | wastewater | As discussed in the Frequently Asked Questions, you are encouraged to coordinate with the Division of Water Rights (Division) as part of the pre-consultation process. | If pursuing a wastewater change petition in the Policy area | high |
| #Q011 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Information Compilation for Potential Flow Impairment | wastewater | In addition, you should compile information demonstrating whether and how there is a potential for the change to impair instream beneficial uses due to a decrease in flow. This information should be submitted with your petition forms and the appropriate filing fee. | | medium |
| #Q012 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Cumulative Diversion Analysis (CDA) Requirement | aquatic life, other | Changes that have the potential to impair instream beneficial uses due to a decrease in flow (with the exception of changes on a flow regulated main stem river) must be evaluated using the Cumulative Diversion Analysis (CDA) methods established in the Policy. Accordingly, you would need to prepare a CDA to evaluate the stream reaches potentially affected by the proposed change. | Changes that have the potential to impair instream beneficial uses due to a decrease in flow (with the exception of changes on a flow regulated main stem river) | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Public Trust Resource Consideration and Protection | aquatic life, recreational water | the State Water Board has an independent obligation to consider the effect of the proposed project on public trust resources and to protect those resources where feasible. | In addition to any obligation under the California Environmental Quality Act | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | operational | unknown | Hydrologic Analysis Evaluation | wastewater | Before granting a change petition, the State Board evaluates if the change could result in a decrease in stream flow. | Prior to granting a change petition | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | operational | guidance | Standard Change Petition for Non-Flow Modifications | wastewater | A Standard Change Petition if the owner of the wastewater treatment facility is proposing to change either: (1) the purpose of use, place of use, or point of discharge of treated wastewater, and the change will not result in a reduction of instream flows beyond the reduction already approved in an Order issued by the State Water Board; or, (2) any condition as described in any Order issued by the State Water Board. | Proposed changes to purpose, place, or point of discharge without additional flow reduction, or changes to order conditions | high |
| #Q016 | administrative | operational | guidance | Additional Wastewater Change Petition for Further Flow Reductions | wastewater | An additional Wastewater Change Petition if the owner of the wastewater treatment facility is proposing to change the purpose of use, place of use, or point of discharge of treated wastewater and the change will result in a reduction of instream flows beyond the reduction already approved in the order or orders. | Proposed changes resulting in flow reductions beyond previously approved orders | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Exclusive Ownership of Treated Wastewater | wastewater | The owner of a waste water treatment plant operated for the purpose of treating wastes from a sanitary sewer system shall hold the exclusive right to the treated waste water as against anyone who has supplied the water discharged into the waste water collection and treatment system, including a person using water under a water service contract, unless otherwise provided by agreement. | Plant must be operated for the purpose of treating wastes from a sanitary sewer system | high |
| #Q018 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Information Requirement for Instream Flow Impairment | wastewater, aquatic life | To process wastewater change petitions, pursuant to the Policy, the State Water Resources Control Board requires sufficient information to determine whether the proposed change will impair instream beneficial uses due to a decrease in flow. | Pursuant to the Instream Flow Policy | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | CIWQS Account Registration | other | In order to submit information to the Water Boards via CIWQS, users must register for an account. | To submit information to the Water Boards via CIWQS | high |
| #Q020 | reporting | reporting | guidance | Stormwater Annual Reporting Submittal | other | Enrollees under the statewide general industrial stormwater permit can submit annual reports to the Stormwater Multi-Application, Reporting, and Tracking System (SMARTS). | | high |
| #Q021 | reporting | reporting | guidance | NPDES and SSO Electronic Submittal | wastewater | Currently, individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit holders and enrollees under the statewide general sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) order may be able to submit information to CIWQS. | | high |