The NPDES Permit Program
How NPDES permits translate water quality standards into specific, enforceable limits and conditions.
Permit Categories
NPDES permits cover a wide range of dischargers, not just POTWs — industrial dischargers, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and stormwater systems all have their own permit categories.
Effluent Guidelines
Technology-based effluent limits for specific categories, established by EPA in 40 CFR Parts 405–471, set the minimum treatment standard for those industries.
Water Quality Standards
Water quality standards define what a waterbody is supposed to be usable for, and what concentrations of pollutants permit those uses.
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
A TMDL sets the total maximum loading a waterbody can receive for a specific pollutant and still meet water quality standards — and then allocates that loading among sources.
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