Water Quality > Permits - Point Source Pollution

Permits - Point Source Pollution

Individual Wastewater Discharge Permits | General Permits (non-stormwater) | Permit Guidance/Data | Permit Fees | 401 for Dams (FERC) | Cruise Ship Lines MOU  | Wastewater Operator Certification Program | Permit Information

The state of Washington, Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program, is delegated by the U.S. EPA as the state water pollution control agency, responsible for implementing all federal and state water pollution control laws and regulations.  Wastewater and stormwater discharges are regulated primarily by wastewater discharge permits, which stipulate specific limits and conditions of allowable discharge.

A wastewater discharge permit is required for disposal of waste material into "waters of the state," which include rivers, lakes, streams, and all underground waters and aquifers.  A wastewater discharge permit is also required for certain industrial users that discharge industrial waste into sanitary sewer systems. A wastewater permit may be required for facilities that have stormwater runoff to surface waters.

Below you will find a list or links to general permits and individual permits. You will also find information and links to other permit information including the Permit Writer's Manual, car wash guidance manual, the water quality database, and wastewater discharge permit fees.

A link to EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) application forms can be found on permit guidance page. You will also find links to Washington's state wastewater discharge permit applications.

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General Permits

A general permit focus sheet is available. It explains what general permits are, how general permits fit into the NPDES permitting system, and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach to permitting wastewater discharges.

Aquatic Pesticide Permits

Statewide general permits for aquatic pesticides

Boatyard General Permit

Statewide general permit for boatyards

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Permit

Information on the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Permit.

Fresh Fruit Packing General Permit

Information on the statewide general permit for the fresh fruit packing industry.

Sand and Gravel Permit

Information on the Sand and Gravel General Permit

Stormwater General Permits

The Stormwater Homepage has links to the industrial stormwater general permit, the construction stormwater general permit, and municipal phase 1 and phase 2 stormwater general permits. The Stormwater Homepage also contains links to the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program and the stormwater management manuals.

Upland Fin-Fish Hatching and Rearing General NPDES Permit

Information on the Upland fin-Fish Hatching and rearing General NPDES Permit

Water Treatment Plants

An NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Filtration Plants

Individual Wastewater Discharge Permits

An individual permit is written for a specific discharge at a specific location. The individual permit is highly tailored to regulate the pollutants in the discharge. An individual permit may be an NPDES permit for discharges to surface waters. NPDES individual permits may be issued to an industry or to a municipality. An individual permit may also be a State Waste Discharge permit for discharges to ground or industrial discharge to a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Copies of industrial and municipal NPDES and State individual permits and fact sheets:  The permits are organized by the region issuing the permit (see map below) or by the facilities permitted.

• Central Regional Office
• Eastern Regional Office
• Headquarters - Lacey
• Northwest Regional Office
• Southwest Regional Office
• Industrial Section Permits

 

Permit Information

Permit Handbook

 

Focus Sheet on General Permits

 

Permit Writer's Manual

Technical guidance and policy manual for permit writers who develop wastewater discharge permits in Washington State

Transfer of Ownership Form

Transfers ownership of an Individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or State Waste Discharge Permit to a new owner/operator.

Vehicle and Equipment Washwater Discharges

This guidance manual discusses the environmental concerns over discharges from washing the exterior surfaces of vehicles and equipment such as cars and/or trucks, and light or heavy equipment.

Wastewater/Stormwater Discharge Permit Fees

Permit fees are paid by holders of federal and state wastewater and stormwater discharge permits issued by Ecology.

Water Reclamation and Reuse

Design standards for the use of adequately and reliably treated wastewater in place of drinking water for non-potable uses.

Water Quality Life Cycle System Database (WPLCS)

Information about individual permits.