Runoff Reality Check: What’s Really Leaving Sites

Date: October 22, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST/1:00 PM CST
Presenter: Angela G. Walker, JM
Credits: 1.0 PDH | 0.1 CEU
Cost: $14.99 Early Bird / $19.99 Regular

Stormwater runoff is often viewed as a routine byproduct of rain events, yet what actually leaves a site can vary significantly depending on land use, industrial activity, maintenance practices, and hidden discharge conditions. During storm events, first-flush runoff can mobilize accumulated pollutants, transport contaminants offsite, and trigger regulatory response actions that escalate quickly across multiple agencies.

This webinar provides a practical, field-based examination of stormwater runoff and the real-world conditions that affect water quality, inspections, and enforcement outcomes. Participants will explore how first-flush conditions influence pollutant loading, how illicit discharges can be concealed within normal stormwater flow, and how industrial and commercial contributors—including food processing facilities, truck wash operations, marinas, and outdoor material handling areas—can alter runoff characteristics.

The session emphasizes field verification, defensible documentation, and targeted response strategies that improve inspection accuracy and regulatory decision-making. Participants will learn how to recognize runoff indicators, identify suspicious discharge conditions, and implement sampling approaches that capture intermittent or condition-based violations that routine inspections may miss.

To strengthen practical application, the webinar is anchored by two real-world case studies:

• Used Cooking Oil Release: A stormwater-driven runoff event caused by a damaged used cooking oil container that escalated into a multi-agency response involving Georgia EPD and the U.S. Coast Guard. Participants will examine pollutant transport pathways, first-flush impacts, and incident escalation.
• Reported Petroleum Discharge at a Marina: A citizen complaint prompted a response involving city police, code enforcement, utility pretreatment personnel, environmental stakeholders, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Through field verification and documentation, responders determined no active petroleum discharge existed—highlighting the importance of evidence-based investigation and defensible findings.

Key takeaways include:

• Identifying first-flush pollutant loading and runoff transport pathways
• Distinguishing between confirmed discharges and suspected runoff conditions
• Recognizing high-risk industrial and commercial runoff contributors
• Applying targeted inspection and sampling strategies during runoff events
• Strengthening documentation and multi-agency coordination for enforcement actions

This session is designed for stormwater professionals, MS4 permit holders, inspectors, pretreatment coordinators, environmental compliance personnel, utility staff, and regulatory professionals seeking practical tools to improve runoff evaluation and response.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Identify first-flush conditions and pollutant transport pathways during runoff events
2. Differentiate confirmed discharges from suspected or non-verified runoff conditions
3. Evaluate industrial and commercial site activities that increase runoff contamination risks
4. Apply targeted inspection and sampling strategies for intermittent or hidden discharges
5. Strengthen documentation and coordination practices to support defensible enforcement actions

About the Presenter

Angela G. Walker, JM, is a water and wastewater professional with more than three decades of experience in utility operations, environmental compliance, industrial pretreatment, workforce development, and operational leadership. Beginning her career in the water industry in 1987, she has worked across both municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems and currently serves as Assistant Director of Wastewater Operations for the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water & Sewer Commission in coastal Georgia.

Angela holds Georgia Class I Wastewater and Wastewater Industrial Operator certifications, as well as a South Carolina Class A Physical/Chemical Wastewater certification. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Juris Master with a concentration in International Legal Studies, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to environmental compliance, leadership, regulatory decision-making, and workforce development.

In addition to utility operations, Angela is the founder of The Leadership Exchange Group LLC and the Water & Wastewater Leadership Exchange™, where she develops and delivers continuing education and professional development for water and wastewater professionals. Her training focuses on translating regulations and technical concepts into practical strategies that professionals can apply in the field.

Her work and presentations explore the connections among stormwater, wastewater, industrial pretreatment, watershed protection, compliance, emergency response, and utility leadership. Drawing from real-world experience in a coastal and hurricane-prone community, Angela emphasizes a simple principle: environmental systems do not operate in silos, and neither should the professionals responsible for protecting them.