The Industrial Stormwater Program works to protect the City storm sewer system and surface water quality by reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff from industrial and commercial facilities. The Program began when the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit to the City of Portland in 1995 in accordance with Phase II of the Clean Water Act.

The Industrial Stormwater Program is responsible for ensuring compliance with the “Industrial and Commercial Facilities” section of the City’s MS4 Permit and does this primarily through the administration of the DEQ-issued 1200-A and 1200-Z General Industrial Stormwater Discharge Permits as an agent of DEQ. The 1200-A and 1200-Z Stormwater Permits regulate stormwater discharges from industrial facilities that may reach Oregon waterways directly or through conveyance system such as ditches or storm drains. 

The City inspects hundreds of permitted industries with stormwater discharges to surface waters and provides technical assistance and issues enforcement actions to sites not meeting permit requirements. The Industrial Stormwater Program also conducts inspections of non-permitted sites to determine whether the facility is required to obtain a 1200-A or 1200-Z stormwater permit due to exposure of industrial activities to stormwater runoff in areas that discharge to surface water. Sites are also inspected for compliance with Portland City Code 17.39-Storm Sewer Discharges.