Our program

What we do:

The national pollutant discharge elimination system, or NPDES is a permit issued to states that controls the direct discharge (or point source) of pollutants into waters of the U.S. Tennessee has been issued an NPDES permit, and must abide by its regulations. It allows any entities that are dumping pollutants directly into water bodies to do so as long as those pollutants are within certain limits. How much is being dumped, what is being dumped, and where must be reported to the EPA. If dumping occurs either purposefully or accidently of any substance other than stormwater without reporting, it is considered Illicit discharge and is illegal. At the water quality program of Chattanooga, our goal is to achieve 100% compliance with applicable Federal and State clean water laws and regulations, and to maintain and improve the condition and flow of the storm water infrastructure to address any existing or anticipated problem areas.

The City's NPDES MS4 permit mandates the implementation of specific jurisdiction-wide management programs to control stormwater discharges to the "maximum extent practicable". Overall, the development and implementation of these programs have worked to reduce and minimize pollutants from entering streams from the MS4 drainage system. The NPDES Permit requires an annual system-wide report on the progress of Permit items. The Water Quality Program regurlarly maintains records of these Performance Measures.

In June 2012, the Water Quality Program implemented an Enforcement Response Plan , which serves to establish methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the regulated municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The objectives of the ERP are:

• To regulate the contribution of pollutants into the regulated MS4 and community waters
• To prohibit illicit connections and discharges to the regulated MS4 and community waters
• To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance and enforcement procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this document