National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a program under the Clean Water Act that regulates point source pollution by requiring permits for any entity discharging pollutants into U.S. waters.
Effluent Limitations: Restrictions on the quantity or concentration of pollutants that can be discharged from point sources.
Best Management Practices (BMPs): Techniques or measures implemented by industries or municipalities to minimize pollution from their activities.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): A calculation determining the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive while still meeting water quality standards.
"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)" also found in: