The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was created by the federal government under the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1972. At its core, the purpose of NPDES is to help improve water quality by limiting water pollution at the source of discharge.

NPDES has a significant impact on thousands of facility owners, operators and other wastewater dischargers across the United States. Keeping up with the responsibilities and requirements of NPDES is no small task for any organization.

The program works at the state level, by giving states, tribes and territories permitting authority to enforce the federal NPDES rules and adding a few of their own.

From Federal to State: How Challenging Requirements Flow Downhill

For example, in Virginia, the NPDES is administered through the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit program. It mostly follows the federal regulations, but with additional state requirements, such as the need to meet water-quality-based effluent limits and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) notification requirement for unpermitted discharges or unusual discharges.

And for those identified as a “significant industrial user,” there are also local wastewater permits required in many localities and counties which can vary greatly from one region to the next.

Fortunately, ONE Environmental has developed vast expertise around the ins and outs of discharge elimination system requirements for clients in states such as Virginia, where the firm is especially skilled in VAR05, VAG84, VAN00, and VAR10 general permits.

Removing the Permitting Burden and Providing Compliance Peace of Mind

The ONE team can assist organizations of all sizes with wastewater compliance on a local and regional level. Our specialists can handle the permitting process from start to finish, including preparing permit applications, completing the required sampling for the application, and implementing the permit by performing ay required inspections, sampling, and discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).

When considering an environmental services provider, remember that wastewater management and stormwater management are each important pieces of the of NPDES puzzle, and ONE can help clients solve for both.

In fact, wastewater and stormwater permit renewal applications are a great opportunity for facilities to take a close look at their current permit and existing discharge limits, their facility operations, and any facility changes and consider if their permit continues to align with operations and is protective of water quality.

When Experience, Innovation and Focus Matters

ONE Environmental has earned a reputation for being technically sound and having a comprehensive grasp on the full spectrum of wastewater compliance regulations, as well as permitting process requirements.

The ONE team also prides itself in the way it closely examines each client’s facility operations and uses out-of-the-box thinking to ensure it receives the best permit possible for that location. The ONE approach involves examining each facility holistically, and from there determining which areas of their permit can be focused on and improved upon. 

In addition to being able to leverage years of experience to navigate the nuances of the permitting process, the ONE team thinks through the process, the data, the flows, the mapping, and any facility changes to ensure the application is fully tailored to the facility and will deliver the most favorable result.

ONE can help clients address wastewater and stormwater needs, as well as the full range of other complex environmental, health and safety compliance issues that go hand-in-hand with the planning, development, and operation of facility’s EH&S program.