NPDES > Overview

Storm water runoff is rain, snow or other precipitation that runs off roofs, parking lots, roads and anything it happens to pick up along the way, such as trash, silt, oil, grease, detergents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other materials. The EPA has identified storm water runoff as a significant source of pollution to surface waters such as lakes, rivers, streams and even the ocean.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates point sources that discharge pollutants (from both storm water and non-storm water) into waters of the United States through provisions of the Clean Water Act known as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The term “point source” refers to any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, such as a pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, discrete fissure, or container.

The U.S. EPA has authorized many states to implement and monitor the NPDES program. NPDES permits set specific requirements regulating the characteristics of the discharged water based on national technology-based effluent limitations and applicable water quality standards. The permits establish the level of performance the discharger must maintain and specify monitoring, inspection, and reporting requirements and other actions necessary to achieve compliance.

Most storm water discharges are considered point sources and require coverage by an NPDES permit. Regulated storm water discharges fall into three categories; construction activities, industrial activities, and municipal separate storm water systems (MS4s). All three categories could apply to a college or university. For example, a college or university with a steam electric power generating facility would fall within the industrial category. The construction category applies to clearing, grading and excavation activities that disturb one or more acres of land. The MS4s category may apply to public universities.

Other activities or discharges could require your facility to have an NPDES permit. If you have an NPDES permit or believe one is required for your facility, continue on to the expanded content to learn more about NPDES permit requirements.