National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System(NPDES) Permit
The Problem
• 25 years ago 1/3 of the
waters of the US were
safe for fishing or
swimming
• Wetland Losses were
estimated at 460,000
acres annually
• Agricultural runoff
resulted in the erosion of
2,250,000,000 tons of soil
and the deposit of large
amounts of phosphorus
and nitrogen
Foundation of Modern Water Laws
• 1948 Water Pollution Control Act- focused on protection of
human health not environment. Had few if any federal
goals, objectives, limits, and or guidelines.
• Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1956 and the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1961focused on funding for municipal wastewater treatment
plants.
• Water Quality Act of 1965 – required States to develop
water quality standards for interstate waters. About half of
states complied.
• Refuse Act Permit Program (RAPP)-permitting program to
control water pollution. Required facilities discharging
wastes into public waterways to obtain federal permits.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(FWPCA) Amendments of 1972
• Distinct change in philosophy of water pollution control
in the United States
• Requirements for water-quality based controls
• Emphasis on technology-based or end-of-pipe control
strategies
• Maintained discharge of pollutants to a navigable
water is not a right.
• Effluent limits must be based on treatment technology
performance, but more stringent limits may be
imposed if the technology-based limits do not prevent
violations of water quality in the receiving water.
• Created the NPDES Program
Clean Water Act
• Established 126
pollutants that are toxic
• Defined conventional and
non conventional
pollutants.
• Adjusted technology
based standards to reflect
a shift towards controlling
toxics.
• Goal was to restore all
waters of the US to a
fishable and swimmable
quality
What is an NPDES Permit
• All facilities which discharge pollutants from
any point source into waters of the US must
obtain a permit.
• Two levels of control 1) technology based
limits 2)water quality based limits
• Categorized Point sources vs. non point
sources
Point Source
• Discharges from
publicly owned
treatment
works(POTWs),
discharges from
industrial facilities , and
discharges associated
with urban runoff.
Non-point Source (Non-regulated)
• Majority of agricultural
facilities
• Exempt from NPDES
regulations
Non-point Source (Regulated)
• Urban Runoff from
citizens going about their
everyday or rainfall
activities
• Includes sediment,
nitrogen, fertilizers,
pesticides, motor oil, and
household hazardous
wastes.
• Reports show that this is
the leading cause of
water pollution in the US
What is Jefferson County?
• Phase I municipalities
are all cities or counties
over 100,000 people.
• Jefferson County has a
Phase I Municipal
Separate Sewer System
(MS4) Permit.
Permit Requirements for Construction
Sites
• Home sites must be submitted
to the local agency for review
prior to construction.
• Commercial Sites less than
one acre must be submitted
for review
• All sites greater than 1 acre
must have an Alabama
Department of Environmental
Management (ADEM) Permit
as well as be submitted to
local agencies for acceptance.
• THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO
KEEP SEDIMENT ON YOUR
SITE!!!!
Primary Pollutants of Concern on
Single Family Residential sites
• Sedimentation
• Nitrogen
• Common chemicals
such as paint, toxins,
and other building
chemicals
• Debris
• BE RESPONSIBLE KEEP
YOUR SITE CLEAN
Questions