Effluent limitation explained

An effluent limitation is a United States Clean Water Act standard of performance reflecting a specified level of discharge reduction achievable by the best available technology or related standards for various sources of water pollution.^{[1] [2]} These sources include all industries, businesses, municipal sewage treatment plants and storm sewer systems, and other facilities that discharge to surface waters. Effluent limitations are implemented in discharge permits issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies, through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).^[3]

See also

• Effluent
• Effluent guidelines (national industrial wastewater regulations)
• United States regulation of point source water pollution

External links

• Overview of NPDES Permit Program - US EPA

Notes and References

1. United States (1972). "Effluent Limitations." Clean Water Act (CWA), section 301, et seq.
2. The other standards are: (a) Best Practicable Technology Currently Available (BPT) and Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT); together with BAT, they are collectively referred to as "Effluent guidelines"; (b) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS); (c) Water quality-based effluent limitations (WQBEL); and (d) Best Professional Judgment of the permit-issuing agency (BPJ). See CWA sections 301, 306, 307 and 402(a).
3. September 2010 . NPDES Permit Writers' Manual . EPA . EPA-833-K-10-001.