Water: Water Quality Standards Academy
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Education & TrainingTraining ProgramsWater Quality Standards AcademyBasic Course: Supplemental Topics (NPDES Permit 2)
Education & TrainingTraining ProgramsWater Quality Standards AcademyBasic Course: Supplemental Topics (NPDES Permit 2)Basic Course: Supplemental Topics (NPDES Permit 2)
Introduction: Control of Point Sources
Course Navigation
- Listing Impaired Waters and Developing TMDLs
- Monitoring & Assessment
- NPDES Permit Program
- Point Source Control
- Permitting Authority
- Types of Permits
- Categories of Permits
- Permit Components
- Key Considerations
- Technology-Based Determination
- Water Quality-Based Determination
- WQBELs Process
- Step 1: Identify WQSs
- Step 2: Assess Concentration
- Pollutants of Concern
- Dilution/Mixing
- Critical Conditions
- Dilution/Mixing Allowance
- Step 3: Establish Need
- Step 4: Calculate Limits
- Summary
- Quiz
- Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria
- Aquatic Life Criteria
A fundamental consideration for achieving CWA goals is the ability to control sources of pollutants that may be impairing or threatening the quality of navigable waters. In many jurisdictions, the discharge of pollutants from point sources is a significant factor to address when managing the condition of water bodies.
Pollutant discharges from point sources are controlled through the NPDES permit program. That is, the CWA prohibits the discharging of pollutants from a point source into a "water of the United States" unless the operation has been granted an NPDES permit that explicitly allows discharges by establishing:
- What and how much of a pollutant can be discharged into a receiving water.
- What monitoring and reporting on discharges are required.
- Other conditions as needed to carry out the intent of the CWA.
Resource. EPA’s comprehensive regulations that implement the NPDES program are at 40 CFR Part 122.
Learn More. Definitions of three key terms for the NPDES permit program. Proceed to the Learn More Topic. » (Note: This link launches a pop-up window.)
