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EPA regulates the discharge of pollutants from point and nonpoint sources under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Sources that discharge wastewater to Waters of the United States may need to obtain a federal, state, or municipal permit to do so.
Major water permitting programs include:
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a permitting program designed to limit the amount of pollutants that reach waters of the United States. While NPDES is a federal program, most states run their own Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting programs.
The NPDES program requires permits for the discharge of “pollutants” from any “point source” into “waters of the United States.” The program covers the following types of pollutants:
NPDES permits
If you plan construction or an industrial activity that will affect a area defined as a wetland, you must check with EPA, your state, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to see if you need a permit.