California Stormwater Quality Association

What California Stormwater Quality Association does

California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) is a California-based nonprofit professional member association that has operated for more than twenty years advancing sustainable stormwater management across the state. Its core purpose is to provide qualifying credentials, training, and technical resources required for compliance with California's Construction General Permit (CGP) and Industrial General Permit (IGP). CASQA serves three primary constituent groups: municipal and government stormwater agencies, construction and development firms requiring QSD/QSP-qualified personnel, and industrial facilities requiring QISP-qualified practitioners, alongside a broader community of environmental consultants and water-quality professionals.

CASQA's product portfolio centers on (i) BMP Handbooks (Construction, Development, Industrial & Commercial, and Municipal) delivered as annual online subscriptions with SWPPP templates; (ii) the CGP and IGP Training Programs, which include online training modules, timed proctored examinations, and a public Qualification Directory searchable by ZIP and radius; (iii) annual conference and seminar series for professional development; and (iv) supplemental resources covering LID/Green Infrastructure, Trash Full Capture Systems, funding/utilities, and statewide water-quality priorities. The underlying technology is a conventional web-based Learning Management System for training, examination, and qualification tracking, integrated with the State Water Board's SMARTS database for IGP compliance reporting. Distribution is hybrid: direct online self-serve for handbooks/qualifications, plus a state-wide network of qualified CGP and IGP Trainers of Record who deliver in-person courses.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: annual membership dues, recurring BMP Handbook subscriptions, one-time training and exam fees ($155 QSD/QSP exam, $505 QISP training), recurring qualification renewals ($125–$240 depending on program and timeliness), Trainer of Record qualification and annual fees ($530 application, $65/year), conference/seminar registration and sponsorship, and targeted document sales (e.g., Trash Control Measure Implementation Guidance at $115–$215). Member pricing is layered on top of all fee-based products, creating a discount-driven membership acquisition loop. In November 2024, CASQA assumed end-to-end management of the QSD/QSP/QISP qualification pipeline previously administered by the Office of Water Programs at Sacramento State, materially expanding its recurring credentialing revenue and centralizing the compliance ecosystem on its platform.

Name

California Stormwater Quality Association

Legal name

California Stormwater Quality Association

Website

https://casqa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) is a California-based nonprofit professional association that qualifies stormwater practitioners (QSD/QSP/QISP) and publishes BMP Handbooks and training resources used by municipalities, construction firms, and industrial facilities to comply with state stormwater permits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stormwater Quality Management Professional Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

EMS Training & Competency Development (EUAHAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)

Keywords

• Stormwater quality management
• BMP handbook subscriptions
• Construction general permit
• Industrial general permit
• Professional training certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Redondo Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to publications, work products, event updates, position opportunities, and member discounts on BMP Handbooks and training programs.
2. BMP Handbook Subscriptions: Annual online subscriptions for Construction, Development, and Industrial & Commercial BMP Handbooks including SWPPP templates. Available for individuals and organizations (group subscriptions). Members receive substantial discounts.
3. QISP Training Program: QISP Online Training registration fee of $505 includes 2-year access to training program and 1-year access to Industrial & Commercial BMP Handbook. Midterm and final exams included. Re-registration fee of $70 for retakes.
4. QSD/QSP Training and Examination: Training course fees set by CGP Trainers of Record (not controlled by CASQA). Exam registration fee of $155 covers both QSP and QSD exams. Retake fee of $72 for failed exams.
5. Trainer of Record Qualification: CGP and IGP Trainer of Record qualification fees: $530 for new ToR applicants, $280 for previously not selected applicants. Annual renewal fee of $65 per year (July 1 - June 30).
6. Qualification Renewals: QSD/QSP renewal: $125 before expiration, $145 after expiration. QISP renewal: $220 before expiration, $240 after expiration.
7. Annual Conference and Events: Revenue from attendee registration, exhibit space, sponsorship packages, and program ad purchases for the Annual Conference and Seminar Series events.
8. Trash Control Measure Implementation Guidance: Document sales: $115 for members (one-time purchase), $215 for non-members (one-time purchase). Password-protected copyrighted document.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CASQA is a nonprofit professional member association that delivers qualification training programs (QSD, QSP, QISP) and Trainer of Record certification for California's Construction and Industrial General Permits, subscription-based BMP Handbooks for Construction, Development, and Industrial & Commercial sectors, and professional development events including an annual conference and seminar series. It also publishes technical resources covering LID/GI design, water quality priorities, trash capture systems, and stormwater funding. Revenue is generated through membership dues, subscriptions, training and examination fees, and conference registrations.

Product overview

The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) is a professional member association, not a software technology company. Its offerings consist of professional training and certification programs along with informational resources. The core offerings include BMP Handbooks (Construction, Development, Industrial & Commercial, and Municipal) provided as online annual subscriptions; CGP and IGP Training Programs that qualify stormwater professionals as QSD/QSP and QISP practitioners; a public Qualification Directory for finding certified professionals; an Annual Conference and Seminar Series for professional development; and various resource publications addressing water quality priorities including trash capture systems, pesticides, metals, and biological integrity. These products and services support compliance with California stormwater permits rather than functioning as a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BMP Handbooks (Construction, Development, and Industrial & Commercial) Subscription-based Best Management Practices (BMP) Handbooks for the Construction, Development, and Industrial & Commercial sectors, including SWPPP templates, available to individuals and organizations via annual online subscriptions to support stormwater permit compliance.
• CGP Training Program (QSD/QSP Qualification) Construction General Permit training and qualification program providing pathways to Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) and Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) certifications, including online training modules, timed examinations with anti-cheating controls, and renewal services, for construction industry professionals needing to comply with California's CGP.
• IGP Training Program (QISP Qualification) Industrial General Permit training and qualification program that certifies professionals as Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioners (QISP), including online self-assessment, training registration ($505), midterm exam (35 questions, 70% pass, 2-hour), IGP Trainer of Record course, and final exam (70 questions, 70% pass, 4-hour) for industrial facilities needing IGP compliance.
• Trainer of Record (ToR) Qualification for CGP and IGP Qualification pathway for individuals seeking to become approved CGP or IGP Trainers of Record authorized to deliver CASQA's in-person stormwater training courses, including new applicant fees ($530 new / $280 previously not selected) and annual renewal fee ($65/year, July–June term).
• CASQA Professional Membership Annual professional membership providing access to publications, work products, event updates, position opportunities, member discounts on BMP Handbooks and training programs, and free live seminar webcast access for most member categories.
• Annual Conference Annual in-person professional conference held in Sacramento bringing together over 1,100 stormwater management professionals for technical sessions, networking, exhibit space, sponsorship opportunities, and continuing education.
• Seminar Series Three one-day virtual seminars per year featuring diverse speakers and stormwater management topics, with free live webcast access for most CASQA members and paid access for non-members and Individual Affiliate Members.
• Trash Control Measure Implementation Guidance Password-protected copyrighted document providing guidance on implementing trash control measures, sold as a one-time purchase ($115 for CASQA members and $215 for non-members).
• Qualification Directory Public searchable directory listing individuals qualified by CASQA as QSDs, QSPs, QISPs, and CGP/IGP Trainers of Record, filterable by qualification type, last name, certificate number, or ZIP code distance radius, used by employers and clients to find certified practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1100 stormwater professionals attend the annual conference annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Our Water Our World Partner Municipalities and Garden CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Award-winning partnership initiated in 1998 between city and county agencies and garden centers and hardware stores that sell pest control products. Focuses on less-toxic, eco-friendly products and techniques to reduce pesticide impacts on waterways.
• California Water Boards (State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Boards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership where CASQA leads the Construction General Permit Training Team (CGPTT) and Industrial General Permit Training Team (IGPTT). These collaborative groups comprised of industry experts advise on development and implementation of CGP and IGP Training Programs, including qualifications for Trainer of Record and Qualified Stormwater Practitioners.
• Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for pesticide regulatory activity tracking. CASQA and BACWA jointly track pesticide-related regulatory activities by EPA, DPR and other agencies that have significant potential to affect municipal urban runoff programs and surface water quality.
• California Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists (CBPELSG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for alternative QSD and QISP qualification paths for licensed professionals. California licensed professional engineers and geologists can complete a specialized self-guided State Water Board-sponsored training and registration program as an alternative qualification pathway.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of Clean Water Agencies: NACWA is a nonprofit association representing municipal wastewater and stormwater agencies nationally. It engages in regulatory advocacy, member education, conferences, and technical resources — directly comparable to CASQA's stormwater permit compliance training and member-driven advocacy model, though operating at the national level.
• Association of California Water Agencies: ACWA is a California statewide association of public water agencies that delivers member education, advocacy on water quality and supply policy, and events. As a California-only water association with similar advocacy and training functions, ACWA is the most directly comparable geographic peer to CASQA, though its focus is broader water supply rather than stormwater-specific.
• Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association: SWEMA is a trade association representing manufacturers of stormwater management equipment, including trash capture systems — directly overlapping with CASQA's Certified Trash Full Capture Systems listings and municipal stormwater infrastructure focus. Both serve the California stormwater regulatory community through member education and standards work.
• International Erosion Control Association: IECA is an international nonprofit association focused on erosion and sediment control — the core technical domain of CASQA's Construction General Permit training and BMP Handbooks. Both organizations deliver practitioner training, certification, and technical resources for stormwater/erosion professionals, making IECA a strong technical peer.
• National Municipal Stormwater Alliance: NMSA is a national coalition of stormwater stormwater programs and professionals. It shares CASQA's mission of advancing municipal stormwater management through collaboration, training, and advocacy, and serves many of the same municipal audiences — though at the national rather than state level.

Emerging players

• Environmental & Water Resources Institute (ASCE): EWRI is a technical institute within ASCE focused on environmental and water resources engineering, offering conferences, continuing education, and publications. It overlaps with CASQA's audience of stormwater practitioners and consulting engineers, providing a related — though broader engineering — channel for professional development in stormwater-related topics.

Broad incumbents

• Water Environment Federation: The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is the largest U.S. professional association focused on water quality, with a broad mandate across wastewater, stormwater, and watershed management. WEF offers similar member training, credentialing, technical publications, and a large annual WEFTEC conference, making it a comparable — but national and more diversified — counterpart to CASQA's California-specific stormwater focus.
• American Water Works Association: AWWA is the leading international nonprofit association for water supply professionals, offering member education, certification programs (e.g., Water Operator certifications), technical standards, and a major annual conference (ACE). It parallels CASQA's model of combining membership, training/certification, and conferences around water quality, though it focuses on drinking water rather than stormwater.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CASQA_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-stormwater-quality-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California Stormwater Quality Association