National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
STATEWIDE PESTICIDE PERMITS
Announcements
State Water Board staff is proposing to reissue the existing four Statewide NPDES General Permits for residual pesticide discharges into one consolidated Statewide NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Pest Control Applications.
For more information, click on the link below:
* Pest Control Applications Permitting Webpage
According to the Sixth Circuit Court Ruling on National Cotton Council of America v. U.S. EPA(553 F.3d 927 (6th Cir., 2009)), the application of pesticides at, near, or over waters of the United States that results in discharges of pollutants requires coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. In response to the Sixth Circuit Court’s decisions and previous decisions by other courts on pesticide regulation, the State Water Board adopted the following four Pesticide Permits.
Aquatic Animal Invasive Species Control Permit »» Program Page
The Aquatic Animal Invasive Species Control Permit covers discharges of biological and residual chemical pesticide applications into waters of the United States for aquatic animal invasive species control. The permit became on June 15, 2016 and expired on March 1, 2021, though is administratively extended so continues to be in effect. * Permit: 2016-0041-DWQ * Fee Schedule: Reference Section 2200(b)(10), Category 3
Spray Applications Permit »» Program Page
The Spray Applications Permit covers discharges of biological and residual chemical pesticides into waters of the United States from spray applications for pest control. The permit became effective as of July 1, 2016 and expired on June 30, 2021, though is administratively extended so continues to be in effect. * Permit: 2016-0040-DWQ * Fee Schedule: Reference Section 2200(b)(10), Category 3
Vector Control Permit »» Program Page
The Vector Control Permit covers discharges of larvicide and adulticide applications into waters of the United States for vector control. The permit became effective as of July 1, 2016 and expired on June 30, 2021, though is administratively extended so continues to be in effect. * Permit: 2016-0039-DWQ * Fee Schedule: Reference Section 2200(b)(5)
Aquatic Weed & Algae Control Permit »» Program Page
The Aquatic Weed and Algae Control Permit covers discharges of biological and residual chemical pesticides into waters of the United States for invasive aquatic weed and algae control. The permit became effective on December 1, 2013, and expired on November 30, 2018, though is administratively extended so continues to be in effect. * Permit: 2013-0002-DWQ * Fee Schedule: Reference Section 2200(b)(10), Category 3
Contact Information
DWQ Pesticides NPDES
DWQ-PesticidesNPDES@Waterboards.ca.gov
* Mailing Address:
State Water Resources Control Board
Division of Water Quality
NPDES Unit, 15th Floor
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
- Email Subscription
- To receive notices of future public workshops and other communications from the State Water Board regarding pesticide discharges, you may subscribe to an email notification list by following the link below: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.html
- Under the Water Quality list, select from the following option(s):
- Pesticide Aquatic Invasive Species Control
- Pesticide Aquatic Weed
- Pesticide Aquatic Weed APAP (Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan)
- Pesticide Spray Applications
- Pesticide Vector Control
(Page last updated 9/15/25)
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