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Development Standards

Dewatering

Image of water coming out of an orange pipe open_in_full

According to the State Water Resources Control Board, dewatering is the process of removing excess water in an excavation or impoundment by pumping or other mechanical means.

Dewatering discharges are subject to federal, state, and local regulations because they may contain pollutants that could be discharged into waterways.

Depending on the location of the dewatering operation and the time of year, the City’s combined sewer system, separate sewer system, or municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4, drainage system) can be significantly impacted from temporary dewatering discharges.

Permission from the City -- through an approval letter or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) -- is required for all discharges to the City’s systems.

Typical types of dewatering discharges are:

  • well development water
  • pump/well testing
  • pipeline/tank pressure testing
  • pipeline/tank flushing or dewatering
  • groundwater extraction and/or cleanup projects
  • construction dewatering
  • water supply system flushing
  • filter backwashing
  • equipment decontamination
  • wastewater from cleanup sites

Construction dewatering

Construction dewatering operations may occur when a project site has high groundwater levels or when construction stormwater is contained onsite in sediment basins, trenches, or low points.

Since construction dewatering operations can result in large volumes that exceed the capacity for municipal sewer systems, all discharges to the City’s combined sewer system, separated sewer system, and drainage system require permission from the City through an approval letter or MOU.

The City’s Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Code controls non-stormwater discharges to the City’s stormwater conveyance system and protects water bodies from pollutants consistent with State and Federal regulations.

Since pollutants in construction dewatering operations may exceed the water quality standards for municipal stormwater systems, dewatering discharges must be covered under one of the following:

Although the State Water Resources Control Board's 2022 Construction General Permit authorizes dewatering to the City’s drainage system, the City must issue an approval letter or MOU prior to discharges occurring.

Projects discharging to the City’s drainage system that do not have an approval letter or MOU may be issued a stop-work order, notice of violation, and/or administrative penalties based on the severity of the violation.

Groundwater dewatering

Groundwater dewatering typically occurs when a project needs to pump and remove groundwater for constructing foundations, basements, utilities, or other underground structures.

In the Sacramento region, concentrations of naturally occurring metals in groundwater can exceed water quality standards for receiving waters.

If there is a potential that the discharge would cause or contribute to exceedances of water quality standards in receiving waters, the City will require the contractor to obtain a Limited Threat permit for groundwater dewatering discharges to the City’s drainage system.

The discharged water must be sampled, and the results must be provided to the City for review prior to any discharge.

Groundwater may contain pollutants which are not allowed to be discharged to the City’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) because there is no treatment.

Groundwater discharges must be covered by a permit issued by the State Water Board or the Regional Water Board.

Historically, groundwater in the City of Sacramento has been impacted by a variety of pollutants.

Groundwater sampling must be conducted for all groundwater discharges because these pollutants could cause an exceedance of receiving water limitations.

If sampling shows that there are pollutants in the groundwater, a Limited Threat Discharges To Surface Water permit must be obtained from the State Water Board.

Temporary discharge process

The temporary discharge process manages discharges into the City of Sacramento’s combined sewer system, separate sewer system, or municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4, drainage system).

This process is intended to ensure that the City’s systems are not significantly impacted from temporary discharges and confirms discharges are allowable per City code.

Discharges to City’s sanitary and combined sewer systems are conveyed and treated by SacSewer, Sacramento’s regional sanitation district, and require a Temporary Wastewater Discharge Permit in addition to an approval letter or MOU issued by the City.

In addition to an approval letter or MOU issued by the City, discharges to the City’s storm sewer drainage system require coverage under one of the following:

  • 2022 Construction General Permit
  • City of Sacramento MS4 Permit
  • Limited Threat Discharge permit issued by the State Water Board

To start the process for a temporary discharge, email the Temporary Discharge Application to:

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding the City's Temporary Discharge requirements, contact Sonia Lopez at 916-808-1456 or SLopez@cityofsacramento.org.

For application and information on SacSewer Temporary Discharge Permit, contact Sabina Rynas at 916-876-6522 or rynasS@sacsewer.com.

For more information on the Limited Threat Permit for drainage discharges or the 2022 Construction General Permit Attachment J, contact Bryan Mahoney at 916-808-1914 or BMahoney@cityofsacramento.org.

For general information, visit the City's stormwater quality program webpage.

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