Water Quality and Regulatory Support
The Clean Water Act requires that all point sources discharging pollutants into U.S. waters obtain an NPDES permit. These permits must be renewed at least every 5 years and contain effluent limits as well as monitoring and reporting requirements. Lately, lawsuits from environmental groups have pressed state agencies to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for receiving waters that have led to significant decreases in allowable discharge concentrations for process and storm water discharges alike.
Resolve's engineers have been closely involved in these developing issues, serving on state and national committees to update rules and permits. We assist our clients by developing overall compliance strategies that may include development of site-specific water quality standards (Water Effects Ratio studies and Biotic Ligand Modeling) or relief from unattainable standards (Use Attainability Analyses). We have also helped facilities assess their discharges and the condition of the receiving stream and, where appropriate, remove receiving streams from lists of impaired waters. We have found that cost-effective solutions are identified by a careful examination of all regulatory and technical options.