CWA

Clean Water Act (CWA) The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972.

What do they mean? Point source Non-point source Watershed NPDES POTW SWPPP SWMP CAFO

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. http://be-eco-friendly.blogspot.com/2010/10/point-source.html

https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1398369474357/1398369572276

The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained. EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls discharges. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.

NPDES permits are issued to any facility that discharges directly into waters of the US. Regulated entities include industrial and municipal facilities and include the following types of discharges: Municipal Wastewater Overflows and Stormwater Management Pretreatment Stormwater Discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Biosolids

Municipal Wastewater Overflows and Stormwater Management Overflows of raw sewage and inadequately controlled stormwater discharges from municipal sewer systems can end up in waterways or backup into city streets or basements of homes threatening water quality, human health and the environment. EPA conducts inspections of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) including combined sewer systems and sanitary sewer systems. 

National Pretreatment Program EPA implements the National Pretreatment Program to ensure that industrial and commercial facilities (e.g., dry cleaners, gas stations, and food service establishments) discharging to publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs) do not discharge pollutants that pass through POTWs untreated or interfere with a POTW’s wastewater treatment processes and sewage sludge use or disposal. Pollutants including metals, oil and grease, and other pollutants, may interfere with the operation of POTWs leading to the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated pollutants into waterways. As part of the National Pretreatment Program, EPA may approve states and local POTWs to implement an approved pretreatment program.

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Stormwater Stormwater pollution occurs when debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants are washed into storm drains and flows into water bodies.  

The CWA, and its implementing regulations, requires that certain Industrial facilities Construction sites Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) Obtain coverage for their stormwater discharges under an NPDES permit, develop a:  Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) or Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) and put measures in place to prevent discharges of pollutants in stormwater runoff.  

Discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Under the Clean Water Act, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are defined as point source dischargers. EPA's revised NPDES CAFO regulation prohibits discharges from a CAFO to waters of the U.S. without an NPDES permit. The NPDES regulation describes which operations qualify as CAFOs and sets forth the basic requirements that will be included in all CAFOs' permits.

When sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment works is properly treated and processed, it becomes biosolids that can be applied as fertilizer, recycled or disposed. Biosolids

Biosolids EPA conducts inspections of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and other industrial facilities that generate, store, transport and dispose of biosolids. EPA inspections involve: reviewing the NPDES permit reviewing sludge self-monitoring records and reports interviewing facility personnel knowledgeable of the facility inspecting the sludge treatment and storage units sampling sludge reviewing how samples are collected and analyzed by the laboratory

How does it work?

1 Waters protected under the CWA 2 Pollution control strategy in the CWA 2.1 Point sources 2.1.1 Technology-based standards 2.1.2 Water quality standards 2.1.2.1 Designated uses 2.1.2.2 Water quality criteria 2.1.2.3 Anti-degradation policy 2.1.2.4 General policies 2.2 Nonpoint sources 2.3 Financing of pollution controls

“The Waters of the United States”

All interstate waters including interstate wetlands; All waters which are currently used, or were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; All interstate waters including interstate wetlands; All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds, the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters: Which are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes; or From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; or Which are used or could be used for industrial purposes by industries in interstate commerce;

All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as waters of the United States under this definition; Tributaries of waters identified in paragraphs (s)(1) through (4) of this section; The territorial sea; Wetlands adjacent to waters (other than waters that are themselves wetlands) identified in paragraphs (s)(1) through (6) of this section; waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet the requirements of CWA (other than cooling ponds as defined in 40 CFR 423.11(m) which also meet the criteria of this definition) are not waters of the United States.

1 Waters protected under the CWA 2 Pollution control strategy in the CWA 2.1 Point sources 2.1.1 Technology-based standards 2.1.2 Water quality standards 2.1.2.1 Designated uses 2.1.2.2 Water quality criteria 2.1.2.3 Anti-degradation policy 2.1.2.4 General policies 2.2 Nonpoint sources 2.3 Financing of pollution controls

It’s a Permit!

Point Source vs. Non-Point Source Permit Regulated Not permit regulated

How was it built? 3 Major statutory provisions 3.1 Title I - Research and Related Programs 3.2 Title II - Grants for Construction of Treatment Works 3.3 Title III - Standards and enforcement 3.3.1 Discharge permits required 3.3.2 Technology-Based Standards Program 3.3.3 Water Quality Standards Program 3.3.4 National Water Quality Inventory 3.3.5 Enforcement 3.3.6 Federal facilities 3.3.7 Thermal pollution 3.3.8 Nonpoint Source Management Program

3.4 Title IV - Permits and licenses 3.4.1 State certification of compliance 3.4.2 NPDES permits for point sources 3.4.3 Dredge and fill exemptions 3.4.3.1 Importance of no-jurisdiction determinations 3.4.3.2 Recapture of exemptions 3.4.4 Dredge and fill permits (wetlands, lakes, streams, rivers, and other waters of the U.S.) 3.4.5 POTW Biosolids Management Program 3.5 Title V - General Provisions 3.5.1 Citizen suits 3.5.2 Employee protection 3.6 Title VI - State Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds