Discharge Monitoring Reports

Permittees are required to submit a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) each reporting period (each quarter), even if there is no sampling or no discharge during the reporting period.

Ecology sends each Permittee a blank “paper” DMR form when the facility is covered under the permit.

Permittees now have two options for submitting DMRs: paper DMRs submitted by mail, or WAWebDMR submitted over the internet. Either method is acceptable, but WAWebDMR is strongly encouraged.

For information on how to use WAWebDMR, refer to the following website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/paris/index.html

Permittees who chose to submit “paper” DMRs, need to make copies of the blank DMR form they were mailed at the time of permit coverage, and use a copy of it for reporting. If you need a new blank DMR form, please contact your permit administrator. Mail your completed DMRs to:

Washington Department of Ecology
Water Quality Program - Industrial Stormwater Unit
PO Box 47696
Olympia, WA 98504-7696

Adding or Changing Sampling Locations

Use this form to add, change, or remove sampling or discharge points from your facility. The form should also be used to change the location where stormwater discharged from your facility enters a surface waterbody. Updating Discharge/Sample Point(s) Word docx version

Discharge Monitoring Report – Questions and Answers

Question: What happens if I don't send Ecology a DMR?
Answer: You will be in violation of your permit. Ecology will begin the process of taking an enforcement action to require compliance with your permit. You must send in a DMR every quarter of the year to comply with the permit.

Question: What do I do if my sample results show I exceed benchmark values?
Answer: You should immediately consider the pollutant that exceeds the benchmark value, look around the facility for potential sources, and identify possible actions (best management practices, BMPs) to reduce the amount of pollutant in your stormwater discharge. You should implement those actions, BMPs, as soon as possible to reduce the amount of pollutant in order to prevent further benchmark exceedances. Your permit requires that you record all these actions and keep it as part of your stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP).

Question: My DMR includes additional parameters for an industrial activity based on my SIC code. I don't think that the SIC code is right. What do I do?
Answer: Contact your regional office. An inspector may want to conduct a site visit before they make a determination. If they agree with you, your SIC code will be changed.

Question: I discharge to ground and I don't think I have to sample stormwater. Why did I get a DMR?
Answer: This permit typically only applies to facilities that discharge stormwater to a surface waterbody. You need to contact your regional office. They may want to conduct a site visit before they make a determination on whether you only discharge to ground. If they agree with you, we will change your monitoring requirements.

Question: I didn't think that I needed to sample my site since I lease this site and the landlord and others all discharge into the same place. Isn't the owner responsible for taking the samples?
Answer: All permittees must sample. You need to take the sample before the stormwater from your area mixes with the stormwater from others, if at all possible. If it is not possible, you still need to take a sample. If the results have values above benchmark, request a technical assistance visit from Ecology's regional office, to consider how to proceed.

Question: How am I supposed to get a sample of water running down the parking lot? This is impossible.
Answer: Do you have a copy of the guide for stormwater sampling? Look at the examples in the guide for sampling sheet flow. You should be able to use one of these approaches at your site.

Question: Who do I mail the DMR to?
Answer: The instructions for completing the DMR has this information. They are mailed to:

        Washington Department of Ecology
        Water Quality Program - Industrial Stormwater Unit
        PO Box 47696
        Olympia, WA 98504-7696

Questions: I submitted an application for conditional no exposure certificate and it is still on hold. When will Ecology make their decision? Do I have to sample in the meantime?
Answer: If you are currently under the industrial stormwater general permit, you are required to continue sampling. If you do not do the sampling, you will be in violation of your permit. Ecology regrets that we have not been able to get to all the places that applied for conditional no exposure and are currently on hold. We will get to these as quickly as we can.

Question: I submitted a Notice of Termination but Ecology still hasn't cancelled my permit. What is going on?
Answer: Before Ecology can terminate coverage, we need to conduct a site visit to determine if termination is appropriate. Ecology has 31 days to perform a termination inspection.

Question: I applied for coverage and still have not received a permit. What is the problem?
Answer: We currently have a number of high priority activities. We will get to yours as soon as possible and appreciate your patience.