National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
History of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Untreated stormwater carries pollutants that, when distributed into our local waterways, can negatively impact water quality and public health. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), discharging any pollutants from a point source into waters of the United States is prohibited unless authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES Program regulates point sources discharging into water and controls water pollution with technology and water quality limits, aiming to safeguard water quality and public health. Partnering with AQUALIS can ensure your site qualifies for the proper permits and help keep your site compliant.
NPDES Permit
A permit is typically required before discharging any stormwater. The NPDES Permit allows a point source to discharge a specified level of a pollutant into the water under specified conditions. Under the CWA, permits may not be issued for a term longer than five years, but they may be renewed or reissued at any time after the initial permit is obtained.
Point Source
A point source refers to any discernible single source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, wastewater treatment plant, or factory. The legal definition of point source pollution is located in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act. There are 3 possible sources:
- Construction Activities
- Industrial Activities
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewers (MS4)
View our Whitepapers
Types of Permits
There are 2 types of permits, individual and general.
- Individual: Permit for a single discharger; this permit is issued based on site specific conditions with solutions developed for a facility, issued directly to a single discharger. Individual permits may take six months or longer to be issued.
- General: Permit that covers many discharging source points that are similar enough to meet specific criteria for permit eligibility. Applicants that meet a general permits requirement must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the application. General permits are not issued to any specific discharger but provide a framework that multiple discharges can operate under. General permits are typically quicker to obtain, after providing immediate coverage or coverage after a short wait.
State Permitting Authority
The NPDES is a part of the CWA and is enforced by the federal government, though many states also have the authority to issue NPDES permits. States have the power to write their own permits based on local conditions, which can lead to variations in required measurement control measures across the country.
Permits
Construction Generic Permit (CGP)
In areas where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority, CGP provides permit coverage for eligible construction stormwater discharges.
Multi-Sector Generic Permit (MSGP)
In areas where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority mining, airports, and facilities processing food, cement, timber, and metal products.
Conditional No Exposure Exclusion (NEX)
An exemption from complying with the MSGP, provided that the condition of “no exposure” is maintained. The No Exposure Certification must be resubmitted every five years.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Polluted stormwater runoff is commonly transported through MS4s and often discharged, untreated, into local water bodies. Certain operators are required to obtain NPDES permits and develop stormwater management programs (SWMPs) to reduce polluted stormwater runoff.
Sustainable Stormwater Planning
“At AQUALIS our engineers create systems meeting the present needs and anticipating future demands with an emphasis on efficiency, in addition to environmental and resource protection.”
Did you receive an NOV? Have an urgent need? We can help.
Notices of Violation (NOVs) or Corrective Notices should be taken seriously. Contact AQUALIS today to learn how to resolve the issue and comply with regulations.