How Do Water Boards Regulate Surface Water Pollution?.
Public or private facilities that discharge to rivers, lakes or streams must have discharge permits.
Water boards regulate discharges and stormwater runoff.
Since 1972, the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) has regulated the discharge of pollutants to navigable waters through issuance of permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
They are waste discharge requirements for discharges to surface waters (rivers, streams and lakes that often serve as drinking water supplies) under the CWA.
The regional water board holds a public hearing after the 30-day public notification.
It or the state may adopt the permit as proposed or with modification, or not adopt it at all.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency then has 30 days to object to the draft permit, and the objection must be satisfied before the permit becomes effective.
Regulating Stormwater Runoff Urban runoff can cause pollution, as well as physical impacts, to water bodies and their surrounding landscape.
Regional water boards regulate point source discharges of stormwater using federal CWA authority.