Navigating California’s Waste Discharge Requirements for Wineries

Abstract

GSI The California Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) for Winery Process Water — commonly known as the general winery order — is creating significant compliance challenges statewide. Adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in January 2021, the order regulates the discharge of processed wastewater and solids to land, requiring eligible wineries to obtain coverage and meet monitoring, reporting, and operational standards. Understanding the most common compliance hurdles and how to address them is essential for wineries to maintain compliance. Approximately 1,500 wineries statewide are expected to be permitted under the order, yet many still lack coverage. The original deadline for wineries without existing WDRs was January 2024, and although Regional Water Quality Control Boards have been working with wineries to achieve compliance, wineries that continue to defer compliance may risk formal notices of violation and, eventually, penalties under state law of up to $5,000 per day. The San Francisco Bay Regional Board has prepared a streamlined enrollment process for wineries currently enrolled in Napa County’s Winery Waste Discharge Program, which is scheduled to sunset on January 20, 2027.