Welcome to OC San's guide on determining what permit you need. Navigating the permitting process can be complex, but we're here to help. This section will provide you with the necessary information to identify the specific permits required for your activities, ensuring compliance with our regulations and helping to protect our environment. Let's get started on finding the right permit for your needs.
The permit program limits the discharge of specific pollutants from industrial facilities by establishing numeric discharge standards, discharge requirements, self-monitoring requirements and report requirements.
A Special Purpose Discharge Permit is issued by Orange County Sanitation District for water and wastewater discharges to the sewerage system when no alternative discharge points exist other than the sewer system and/or alternate discharge methods pose an environmental impact or threat.
OC San’s Pretreatment Honor Roll Program recognizes the positive environmental stewardship efforts by Class I Industrial Wastewater Dischargers. Every year, OC San identifies facilities who meet industrial pretreatment program compliance requirements and demonstrate their commitment to environmental excellence.
In some instances, if wastewater meets the terms and conditions of OC San’s Ordinances, including the applicable prohibitions and effluent limits, then it may be discharged to the sewer via a Discharge Authorization Request. For more information on the Discharge Authorization Process, please view the helpful guidelines.
Trunk Connection Permit
Trunk Connection Permits are issued to cities, local sewer and water agencies within OC San’s service boundary for connections to regional OC San sewer manholes. Engineering plans showing the proposed connection plan and profile views shall be submitted to OC San for review and approval. Plans shall meet standards shown in the OC San Design Construction Requirements for Sanitary Sewers; other conditions of approval may apply. OC San does not issue trunk connection permits to private entities. For private entities looking to connect to the public sewer system, please contact your local sewer provider.
To obtain a Trunk Connection Permit please contact Adrian Siew at (714) 593 7164 or asiew@ocsan.gov.
Trunk Connection Permit FAQ
OC San established a program to eliminate the discharge of FOG-containing wastewater from food service establishments (FSE) and commercial kitchens. Restaurants are now required to store fats, oils, and grease in containers that are picked up by permitted recycling and rendering facilities.
OC San operates a wastehauler station at Plant No. 1 for the disposal of septage, chemical toilet, and grease trap wastes only. Liquid waste pumpers must register with the Orange County Health Care Agency and obtain a Wastehauler Permit from OC San.