| Violation ID |
Occurred Date |
Violation Type |
(-) Violation Description |
Corrective Action |
Status |
Classification |
Source |
| 1143721 |
03/12/2025 |
OEV |
Enterococci Not to exceed a specific limit in more than 10% of samples within any 30-day period limit is 10 % and reported value was 16.7 % at S1. |
Enterococcus was measured at 140 CFU/100 mL at S1 on 3/12/25, following rainfall. This resulted in 16.7% of the samples collected at S1 for the month of March exceeding the statistical threshold value (STV) of 110 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus. Samples were collected at S1 the following day (3/13/25) and analyzed for Enterococcus and the reported value dropped to 4 CFU/100 mL. The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus remained below 6 CFU/100 mL at S1, well below the water quality objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1143722 |
03/12/2025 |
OEV |
Enterococci Not to exceed a specific limit in more than 10% of samples within any 30-day period limit is 10 % and reported value was 16.7 % at S3. |
Enterococcus was measured at 160 CFU/100 mL at S3 on 3/12/25, following rainfall. This resulted in 16.7% of the samples collected at S3 for the month of March exceeding the statistical threshold value (STV) of 110 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus. Samples were collected at S3 the following day (3/13/25) and analyzed for Enterococcus and the reported value dropped to 12 CFU/100 mL. The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus remained below 6 CFU/100 mL at S3, well below the water quality objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1143720 |
01/15/2025 |
OEV |
Enterococci Not to exceed a specific limit in more than 10% of samples within any 30-day period limit is 10 % and reported value was 14.3 % at S2. |
Enterococcus was measured at 120 CFU/100 mL at S2 on 1/15/25, coinciding with a reported City of San Diego sewage spill south of S2. This resulted in 14.3% of the samples collected at S2 for the month of January exceeding the statistical threshold value (STV) of 110 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus. Samples were collected at S2 the following day (1/16/25) and analyzed for Enterococcus and it was not detected (<2 CFU/100 mL). The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus remained below 6 CFU/100 mL at S2, well below the water quality objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1143723 |
01/15/2025 |
OEV |
Enterococci Not to exceed a specific limit in more than 10% of samples within any 30-day period limit is 10 % and reported value was 14.3 % at S3. |
Enterococcus was measured at 240 CFU/100 mL at S3 on 1/15/25, coinciding with a reported City of San Diego sewage spill south of S3. This resulted in 14.3% of the samples collected at S3 for the month of January exceeding the statistical threshold value (STV) of 110 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus. Samples were collected at S3 the following day (1/16/25) and analyzed for Enterococcus and it was not detected (<2 CFU/100 mL). The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus remained below 6 CFU/100 mL at S3, well below the water quality objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1140746 |
11/11/2024 |
Order Conditions |
On 11/11/24, approximately 3,000 gallons of Gulf System seawater effluent, treated with cupramine, was inadvertently discharged to the NIS treatment system, which ultimately discharges to Outfall 001 due to operator error. Treated seawater is normally discharged to the sanitary sewer system in accordance with BAS Administrative Control SOPs. |
On 11/11/24, the BAS Senior Life Support Aquarist send an email to BAS Husbandry staff about the proper routing of treated Gulf System effluent. On 11/21/24, EH&S Environmental Affairs staff provided in-person refresher training to BAS husbandry/aquaria staff on the NPDES permit requirements and prohibitions for seawater and stormwater discharges from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This included the standard operating procedures to discharge seawater treated with copper and other medications to the sanitary sewer system, not the ocean. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1140747 |
10/16/2024 |
OEV |
Enterococci 6-Week Rolling Geometric Mean limit is 10 % and reported value was 14.3 % at S3. |
Enterococcus was measured at 1,200 CFU/100 mL at S3 on 10/16/24. This resulted in 14.3% of the samples collected at S3 for the month of October exceeding the statistical threshold value (STV) of 110 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus.
As a corrective action, samples were collected at S3 the following day, on 10/17/24, and analyzed for Enterococcus and the results came back at 10 CFU/100 mL. The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus never exceeded 11 CFU/100 mL at S3, well below the objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1140745 |
10/14/2024 |
Order Conditions |
On 10/14/24, approximately 2,000 gallons of seawater from the BAS Gulf System that had been treated with copper (cupramine) discharged into the storm water conveyance system at BAS when there was an overflow from a degas/biological filtration tower in the Life Support System. The overflow was caused by an airlock from a backup at the Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) treatment system. The issue was promptly addressed upon discovery. The storm water conveyance system at BAS ultimately discharges to Outfall 001. |
An overflow alarm will be installed to alert staff when there is an overflow so the issue can be quickly mitigated |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1136539 |
08/07/2024 |
OEV |
Enterococci 10% for 30 days limit is 10 % and reported value was 16.7 % at S3. |
Samples were collected at S3 the following day, on 8/8/24, and analyzed for Enterococcus and the results came back non-detect. The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus never exceeded 5 CFU/100 mL at S3, well below the objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1136538 |
07/10/2024 |
OEV |
Enterococci 10% for 30 days limit is 10 % and reported value was 12.5 % at S1. |
Samples were collected at S1 the following day, on 7/11/24, and analyzed for Enterococcus and the results came back non-detect. The six-week geometric mean values for Enterococcus never exceeded 5 CFU/100 mL at S1, well below the objective of <30 CFU/100 mL. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1131510 |
01/29/2024 |
Order Conditions |
Due to increased turbidity and/or the potential for matrix interferences from the storm water, samples for some constituents were diluted by the laboratory prior to analysis for Outfall 002 (storm water). This raised the Method Detection Limits (MDLs) and Reporting Limits (RLs) for these samples. As a result, the MDLs and RLs for some of the constituents analyzed for the Outfall 002 samples exceeded Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or Performance Goals. |
UCSD/SIO requests that the laboratory uses the lowest detection limits available for all analyses. There are times, however, when the water quality conditions of the storm water sample require the laboratory to dilute it to minimize matrix interferences and ensure that the results are reported accurately |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1121984 |
09/27/2023 |
Order Conditions |
On 9/27/2023 at 8:45am, a non-storm water discharge (NSWD) was observed from Outfall 002 (0.36 GPM). The water was tested and found to be seawater. The Kaplan Lab chilled seawater system piping is undergoing modifications, requiring seawater to be transferred between lines and tanks and tanks having to be emptied and refilled. These seawater transfers caused seawater to overflow into the downstream storm drain system. |
Outfall 002 was confirmed to be dry at 4pm on 9/27/23 by SIO Facilities Management staff. It is estimated that approximately 100 gallons of seawater discharged to Outfall 002. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1120089 |
09/02/2023 |
LREP |
Quarterly SMR ( MONRPT ) (Quarterly Self-Monitoring Report) report for Q2 2023 (2699816) was due on 01-SEP-23 |
|
Violation |
B |
Report |
| 1121985 |
07/19/2023 |
Order Conditions |
On 7/19/23 at 12:15pm, a non-storm water discharge (NSWD) was observed from Outfall 002 (2 GPM). It was investigated and found to be seawater. The source was identified as an overflow from a seawater line change occurring upstream at Kaplan Lab. |
The seawater line change was stopped, eliminating the seawater discharge and the subsequent flow to Outfall 002. Outfall 002 was confirmed to be dry at 5:30pm on 7/19/23. It is estimated that approximately 100 gallons of seawater discharged to Outfall 002. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1117419 |
03/06/2023 |
Order Conditions |
The surfzone bacteria monitoring sample collected at S1 on March 6, 2023 exceeded the single-sample daily maximum bacterial objective for Enterococcus. The sample result was 320 CFU/100ml and the single sample daily maximum water quality objective is <104 CFU/100ml. No unusual discharges or conditions were observed during the March 6, 2023 sampling event. The calculated 30-day geometric mean for S1 was 7 CFU/100ml which is below the water quality objective of <35 CFU/100 ml. |
S1 was resampled on March 7, 2023 and the result for Enterococcus was 2 CFU/100ml which is below the single sample daily maximum water quality objective. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1121600 |
01/31/2023 |
DMON |
The laboratory identified tributyltin contamination as a result of spiking the laboratory control spike (LCS) into the samples in place of the surrogate standard, thereby affecting all outfall samples. As a result, samples were re-extracted and re-analyzed past holding time. |
As a corrective action, laboratory analysts were re-trained to prevent the accidental spiking of standards for future analyses. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1121602 |
01/31/2023 |
DMON |
There is no TCDD result for OF002 due to a laboratory error. The dioxin subcontractor laboratory (Pace) inadvertently discarded the sample as a result of poor communication and sample management errors between the primary laboratory (Weck) and Pace. The lab did not notify the UC San Diego monitoring team of this error until June 2023 so another storm water sample for this analysis could not be collected for the January thru June 2023 semi-annual period. |
As a corrective action, Weck laboratories has re-trained staff and implemented new safeguards and procedures to prevent this type of issue from re-occurring. They have incorporated a new feature in their container tracking system which will return automatic warnings before disposing of bottles belonging to incomplete work orders. They have also improved the process for tracking and managing samples for subcontracting and trained staff in these new procedures. Documentation of this laboratory error and associated corrective measures is included in Appendix D of the attached wet weather monitoring report. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1119675 |
01/31/2023 |
Deficient Reporting |
The laboratory identified tributyltin contamination as a result of spiking the laboratory control spike (LCS) into the samples in place of the surrogate standard, thereby affecting all outfall samples. As a result, samples were re-extracted and re-analyzed past holding time. |
As a corrective action, laboratory analysts were re-trained to prevent the accidental spiking of standards for future analyses. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1119674 |
01/31/2023 |
Deficient Reporting |
There is no TCDD result for OF002 due to a laboratory error. The dioxin subcontractor laboratory (Pace) inadvertently discarded the sample as a result of poor communication and sample management errors between the primary laboratory (Weck) and Pace. The lab did not notify the UC San Diego monitoring team of this error until June 2023 so another storm water sample for this analysis could not be collected for the January thru June 2023 semi-annual period. |
As a corrective action, Weck laboratories has re-trained staff and implemented new safeguards and procedures to prevent this type of issue from re-occurring. They have incorporated a new feature in their container tracking system which will return automatic warnings before disposing of bottles belonging to incomplete work orders. They have also improved the process for tracking and managing samples for subcontracting and trained staff in these new procedures. Documentation of this laboratory error and associated corrective measures is included in Appendix D of the attached wet weather monitoring report. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1119673 |
01/31/2023 |
Order Conditions |
Due to increased turbidity and/or the potential for matrix interferences from the storm water, samples for some constituents were diluted by the laboratory prior to analysis for Outfall 002 (storm water). This raised the Method Detection Limits (MDLs) and Reporting Limits (RLs) for these samples. As a result, the MDLs and RLs for some of the constituents analyzed for the Outfall 002 samples exceeded Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or Performance Goals. |
UCSD/SIO requests that the laboratory uses the lowest detection limits available for all analyses. There are times, however, when the water quality conditions of the storm water sample require the laboratory to dilute it to minimize matrix interferences and ensure that the results are reported accurately. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1121601 |
01/31/2023 |
Order Conditions |
Due to increased turbidity and/or the potential for matrix interferences from the storm water, samples for some constituents were diluted by the laboratory prior to analysis for Outfall 002 (storm water). This raised the Method Detection Limits (MDLs) and Reporting Limits (RLs) for these samples. As a result, the MDLs and RLs for some of the constituents analyzed for the Outfall 002 samples exceeded Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or Performance Goals. |
UCSD/SIO requests that the laboratory uses the lowest detection limits available for all analyses. There are times, however, when the water quality conditions of the storm water sample require the laboratory to dilute it to minimize matrix interferences and ensure that the results are reported accurately. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1117420 |
01/04/2023 |
Order Conditions |
The surfzone bacteria monitoring sample collected at S1 on January 4, 2023 exceeded the single-sample daily maximum bacterial objective for Enterococcus. The sample result was 140 CFU/100ml and the single sample daily maximum water quality objective is <104 CFU/100ml. No unusual discharges or conditions were observed during the January 4, 2023 sampling event. The calculated 30-day geometric mean for S1 was 10 CFU/100ml which is below the water quality objective of <35 CFU/100 ml. |
S1 was re-sampled on January 6, 2023, which was within 24 hours of receiving the initial analytical results, and the result for Enterococcus was 20 CFU/100ml which is below the single sample daily maximum water quality objective. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1107697 |
06/20/2022 |
Order Conditions |
Due to increased turbidity and/or the potential for matrix interferences, Outfall 2 storm water samples for select constituents were diluted by the laboratory prior to analysis. In addition to dilution, a Florisil cleanup was also performed on the Outfall 2 samples for the PCB and Toxaphene analyses. This raised the Method Detection Limits (MDLs) and Reporting Limits (RLs) for these samples. As a result, the MDLs and RLs for select constituents analyzed using EPA Method 625.1 and EPA Method 608.3 for the Outfall 2 storm water samples exceeded Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or Performance Goals. The list of MDLs that exceeded the Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or the Performance Goals is included in Table 3-3 on page 3-5 of the attached Wet Weather Monitoring report. |
UCSD/SIO requests that the laboratory uses the lowest detection limits available for all analyses. There are times, however, when the water quality conditions of the sample require the laboratory to dilute it to minimize matrix interferences and ensure that the results are reported accurately. It should be noted that these constituents do not have a reasonable potential to cause or contribute to an exceedance of water quality objectives in the storm water discharges from UCSD/SIO based on the last 17 years of monitoring. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1107698 |
06/20/2022 |
Order Conditions |
Due to increased turbidity and/or the potential for matrix interferences, Outfall 4b seawater sand filter backflush samples for select constituents analyzed using EPA Method 608.3 were diluted by the laboratory prior to analysis. This raised the Method Detection Limits (MDLs) and Reporting Limits (RLs) for these samples. As a result, the MDLs and RLs for these constituents exceeded Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or Performance Goals. The list of MDLs that exceeded the Ocean Plan Minimum Levels and/or the Performance Goals is included in Table 3-3 on page 3-5 of the attached Wet Weather Monitoring report. |
UCSD/SIO requests that the laboratory uses the lowest detection limits available for all analyses. There are times, however, when the water quality conditions of the sample require the laboratory to dilute it to minimize matrix interferences and ensure that the results are reported accurately. It should be noted that these constituents do not have a reasonable potential to cause or contribute to an exceedance of water quality objectives in the seawater discharges from UCSD/SIO based on the last 17 years of monitoring. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1107699 |
04/09/2022 |
Order Conditions |
On 4/9/2022, a non-storm water discharge was observed from Outfall 002 by SIO Facilites Management staff while working on the sand filter backflush system. It was investigated and found to be seawater. The source was identified as an overflow from seawater storage tank #3 located upstream. Approximately 2,400 gallons of seawater discharged to Outfall 002. |
The seawater supply to the storage tank was adjusted to stop the overflow, eliminating the seawater discharge and the subsequent flow to Outfall 002. Outfall 002 was confirmed to be dry on 4/10/22. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1104482 |
01/11/2022 |
Order Conditions |
On 1/11/22, a non-storm water discharge was observed at Outfall 002 at a flow rate of approximately 0.25 gpm. It was determined to be fresh water using a salinity meter. The source of the water was investigated from 1/11/22 through 1/14/22 and was discovered to be from an underground leak in a main potable water line under the street in front of the Scripps Administration Building. It is estimated that a total of 1,000 gallons of potable water was discharged from Outfall 002 between 1/11/22 and 1/14/22. |
The water main leak was found and repaired on 1/14/22 and the discharge to Outfall 2 was eliminated. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1090595 |
02/19/2021 |
Order Conditions |
On 2/19/21, a non-stormwater discharge (NSWD) was observed at Outfall 002 in the morning (~0.1 gpm) that was identified as irrigation runoff. It had rained three days earlier on 2/16/21, saturating the ground and reducing infiltration, resulting in irrigation runoff reaching Outfall 002. Approximately one gallon of irrigation water discharged to Outfall 002. |
The irrigation for this area is carefully monitored by Facilities Management Grounds and Landscaping staff and irrigation run times are adjusted throughout the year based on weather conditions to prevent runoff. Outfall 002 was observed to be dry on 2/20/21. Outfall 002 is inspected for flows daily and irrigation runoff was not observed on any other day during the quarter. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
| 1090594 |
01/31/2021 |
Order Conditions |
Outfall 002, a storm water outfall, is inspected once per day for flows. On 1/31/21, a non-storm water discharge (NSWD) was observed from Outfall 002 (~0.1 gpm). It was investigated and found to be seawater. The source was identified as an overflow from seawater storage tank #1 located upstream. Approximately 5 gallons of seawater discharged to Outfall 002. |
The seawater supply to the storage tank was adjusted to stop the overflow, eliminating the seawater discharge and the subsequent flow to Outfall 002. Outfall 002 was confirmed to be dry on 2/1/21. |
Violation |
U |
eSMR |
|
Report displays most recent five years of violations. Refer to the Interactive Violation Report for more data.
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