Water: Water Quality Standards Academy
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Education & TrainingTraining ProgramsWater Quality Standards AcademyBasic Course: Supplemental Topics - TMDL Implementation: Pollutant Source Control Mechanisms
Education & TrainingTraining ProgramsWater Quality Standards AcademyBasic Course: Supplemental Topics - TMDL Implementation: Pollutant Source Control MechanismsBasic Course: Supplemental Topics - TMDL Implementation: Pollutant Source Control Mechanisms
Course Navigation
- Listing Impaired Waters and Developing TMDLs
- 303(d) List and TMDLs Development
- 303(d) List: Identifying Impaired/Threatened Waters
- 303(d) List: Prioritizing Impaired/Threatened Waters
- Water Quality Reporting Requirements under CWA
- 303(d) Submissions: Integrated Report Format
- 303(d) Submissions: Integrated Reporting Categories
- TMDL Development: Introduction
- TMDL Development: The Basic Calculation
- TMDL Development: Documentation and Review
- TMDL Implementation: Pollutant Source Control Mechanisms
- 303(d) List and TMDLs: Public Participation
- Summary
- Quiz
- Monitoring & Assessment
- NPDES Permit Program
- Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria
- Aquatic Life Criteria
TMDLs are not self-implementing under Section 303(d); however, existing implementation mechanisms vary depending on the source of the pollutant(s):
- Point sources. Allocations to point sources get implemented through permits that are consistent with the WLA in the TMDL. These permits are enforceable under the Clean Water Act through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Permits are issued by EPA or States/Tribes with delegated authority.
- Nonpoint sources. There is no federal enforcement program for control of nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source controls are primarily implemented through State/Tribal and local nonpoint source management programs. Some of these State/Tribal or local programs have regulatory enforcement authority.
Key Point. Although states are not required under Section 303(d) to develop TMDL implementation plans, many states include them with the TMDL or develop them as a separate document and EPA does not approve or disapprove them. Evaluations of TMDLs with implementation plans have shown greater success in achieving water quality objectives. TMDL implementation plans provide additional information on how point and nonpoint sources are being controlled-or should be controlled in the future-to meet the relevant water quality standards.
Resource. For information about point source pollution and the NPDES permits program, visit EPA's NPDES Web page . See also the NPDES module in this online training.
Resource. For information about nonpoint source pollution, visit EPA's Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) Web page.
