Management of Nonpoint Source
Pollution in Georgia
Environmental Advisory Committee
February 2007
Roadmap to Initial Background
Discussion
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Watershed Protection Goals
Definitions
Status and Data – Impaired Waters
Nonpoint Source Challenges
Regulatory Drivers
Watershed Protection Clean Water
Goals
Clean Water for Present and
Future Generations
• Clean water is important
to Georgians today
• Clean water important to
tomorrow’s Georgians
• “We do not inherit the
earth from our ancestors,
we borrow it from our
children.” [Gov. Sonny Perdue
- 2007 State of the State Address]
What Does Water Pollution Control
Really Mean?
• Protecting water quality by managing pollutant
loading to water bodies from…
• Treated Wastewater Discharges from
Municipalities and Industries (Point Source
Discharges) and
• Runoff From the Land (Nonpoint Source
Discharges)
…so as to not exceed water quality standards and
tp provide for fishable/swimmable waters
Definition: Point Source Discharges
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A point source is a
discernable, confined,
and discrete conveyance
from which pollutants
may be discharged to
surface waters (e.g.,
wastewater treatment
plant discharges and
stormwater pipes).
Definition: Nonpoint Source
Discharges
• Nonpoint sources are
diffuse, and generally,
but not always, involve
accumulation of
pollutants on land
surfaces that wash off as
a result of storm events.
Definition: Assimilative Capacity
• The natural capacity of a water body to dilute and
absorb pollutants and prevent harmful effects
(e.g., damage to public health or physical,
chemical, biological quality of the water).
• Determined through studies of the water body
(e.g., TMDL)
• Where exceeded, the water body is impaired
Definition: Water Quality Criteria or
Standards
• Water quality criteria or standards are limits
on pollutants that are adopted to protect a
water’s designated use. Water quality
criteria consist of both numeric and
narrative criteria.
Definition: Impaired Waters
• Waters that do not meet the applicable
water quality standard.
• A list of impaired waters is required every
two years by Section 303(d) of the Clean
Water Act.
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Sources of Water Pollution
Impaired Waters In Georgia
• Waters not achieving
water quality standards in
all parts of the State
• >90% Nonpoint Sources
Georgia’s Impaired Streams
Segments - All Sources
Nonpoint Source
600
Urban Runoff
500
400
Industrial NPDES
Discharge
300
Municipal NPDES
Discharge
200
Combined Sewer
Overflow
100
Dam Release
0
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
Impaired
Stream Segments
700
Nonpoint Source Issues of
Concern
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Hydromodification – Habitat Destruction
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Sediment
Nutrients
Organic Loading
Oil and Grease
Metals and other Toxic Substances
Nonpoint Source Challenges
• Land Use Impacts on Water Quality
– Urbanization
– Agriculture
– Forestry
• Regulatory vs. Non-Regulatory
• Funding
Regulatory Framework for
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Management
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Georgia Water Quality Control Act
Erosion and Sediment Control
Stream Buffers
Stormwater Management
Impervious Surfaces
Planning Requirements
Georgia Water Quality Control Act
• Provides framework for many regulations
• Water quality standards for Georgia may not
be violated
• Addresses nonpoint source activities when
water quality standards are violated
• Provides for a variety of Federal NPDES and
State water permits
Erosion and Sediment Control
Five Statutes
• Erosion and Sedimentation Act
• CWA NPDES Construction General
Permits
• CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification
• Shore Protection Act
• Coastal Marshlands Protection Act
Erosion and Sedimentation Act
• Permit required for “Land Disturbing Activity”
disturbing one or more acres
• Local Issuing Authorities (LIA) issue and enforce
(EPD if no LIA)
• Exemptions from part or all of the Act include
mining, agriculture, forestry, DOT,Utilities under
PSC and water supply reservoirs
Erosion & Sedimentation Control
Erosion and Sedimentation Local Issuing Authorities
For Georgia Counties and Cities
Catoosa
Legend
Towns
Fannin
W
Rabun
Union
Mu
rra
y
hit
fie
ld
Dade
sh
a
Cities and Cons. Gov't
Ha
be
r
White
Lumpkin
Gordon
Chattooga
Cities and Towns LIAs
m
Gilmer
Walker
Local Issuing Authorities in
light and dark green
Stephens
EPD
Pickens
Dawson
Banks
Floyd
Cherokee
Forsyth
Bartow
County
Madison
Jackson
Polk
Elbert
EPD
Barrow
Clarke
Gwinnett
Paulding
Counties LIAs
Hart
Franklin
Hall
Cobb
Oc
o
Haralson
e
Lincoln
Wilkes
ale
Ro
c
kd
Fulton
Clayton
Carroll
Oglethorpe
Walton
DeKalb
Douglas
ne
Morgan
Taliaferro
D
Mc
Greene
Newton
Columbia
uff
Henry
ie
Fayette
Warren
Coweta
Heard
Richmond
Putnam
Butts
Jasper
Hancock
Spalding
Pike
EPD enforcement in pink
and red
Burke
Baldwin
Lamar
Meriwether
Troup
Glascock
Jefferson
Jones
Monroe
Washington
Upson
Bibb
Harris
Talbot
Jenkins
Wilkinson
Screven
Johnson
Crawford
Twiggs
Emanuel
Peach
Taylor
Muscogee
Laurens
Bleckley
Bulloch
Effingham
ery
Schley
Pulaski
Dodge
Dooly
Wheeler
Stewart
Montgom
ho
tt a
Ch
a
Candler
Treutlen
oc
he
e
Houston
Macon
Marion
Evans
Toombs
Chatham
Sumter
Bryan
Tattnall
Webster
Wilcox
Telfair
Crisp
Liberty
Quitman
Terrell
Randolph
Jeff Davis
Lee
Long
Appling
Ben Hill
Turner
Irwin
Clay
Calhoun
Dougherty
Worth
Coffee
Wayne
Bacon
McIntosh
Tift
Pierce
Early
Baker
Atkinson
Berrien
Glynn
Mitchell
Brantley
Colquitt
Miller
Cook
Ware
Sem
inol
e
Lanier
Camden
Clinch
Decatur
Grady
Thomas
Brooks
Lowndes
Echols
Charlton
Federal NPDES Construction
General Permits
• For projects disturbing one acre or greater
• Requirements are the same as the applicable LIA issued
LDA permit
• Requires Pollution Control Plan, BMPs, Monitoring,
Inspections
• Agriculture (except for buildings) and forestry are
exempt
• Permit fees = $80/acre
CWA Section 401 Water Quality
Certification
• EPD issues “Certification” via coordinated review
with w/Corps of Engineers
• Review of certain Federal actions:
• CWA Section 404 “dredged or fill material”
• CWA Section 10 “building wharfs, piers,” etc.
• EPD ensures compliance with state law
Shore Protection Act
• Permits for “land alteration”/ “shoreline
engineering activities” on sand dunes,
beaches, and offshore bars and shoals
Coastal Marshlands Protection Act
• Permits for activities that “remove, fill, dredge,
drain or otherwise alter any marshlands”
Stream Buffers
Four Statutes with Rules
• Erosion and Sedimentation Act
• The Mountain and River Corridor Protection
Act / The Georgia Planning Act of 1989
• Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (rule
pending)
• Metropolitan River Protection Act
Erosion and Sedimentation Act
• 25 or 50 (trout stream) foot buffer
• Buffers measured from the point where vegetation
has been wrested by normal stream flow or wave action
• Local governments may adopt wider buffers
• Working in the buffer
* Variances issued by EPD Director
* Ten eligibility criteria
* Exemptions for certain projects
* Variance waives no other requirements
Mountain and River
Corridor Protection Act / Georgia
Planning Act
• 100-foot buffers on rivers > 400 cubic feet/second
• Local land use standards (administered by DCA)
• Rule - Criteria for River Corridor Protection
• “River Corridor Protection Plans”
• Minimum protection criteria within buffers
• Rule - Criteria for Water Supply Watersheds
• 75-150 foot buffers on waterways upstream of water supply
intakes or water supply reservoirs
• Current EPD rulemaking for buffer variance process
Metropolitan River Protection Act
• 150 foot setbacks. “No land or water use shall be
permitted within 150 feet of the watercourse.”
• Local land use standards (comprehensive plan
and ordinances)
Coastal Marshlands Protection Act
• Rule currently published for public comment
• 50 foot buffer
Impervious Surfaces
• No statewide impervious surface rules
• Impervious surfaces managed in buffers:
* E&S buffer variance process
* Metropolitan River Protection Act
• No land or water use within 150 feet of the watercourse
* Criteria for Water Supply Watersheds
• Impervious surface restrictions in 75 – 150 foot setback
areas
Stormwater Management
• Construction
• Municipal (MS4)
• Industrial
Construction Site
Stormwater Permitting
Municipal Stormwater
Permitting (MS4)
NPDES permits municipal
stormwater systems in
urbanized areas
• Phase I: 58 “Large and
Medium” cities and
counties
• Phase II: added 56 cities
and 28 counties
• Permits address water
quality, not quantity
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Municipal Stormwater
Permitting (MS4)
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Requires Stormwater Management Program and adoption of
local ordinances
Requires Six minimum Control Measures
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Public Education
Public Involvement/Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
Post-Construction Storm Water Management in New
Development and Redevelopment
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
Industrial Stormwater Permitting
•Ten categories of
industrial facilities
(>3500)
•Storm Water Pollution
Prevention Plan
(SWP3)
Planning
• The Mountain and River Corridor Protection Act / The Georgia
Planning Act of 1989
• “River Corridor Protection Plans” - Criteria for River Corridor
Protection
• Metropolitan River Protection Act - Chattahoochee stream corridor
• Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act
• Regional Plans and ordinances
• NPDES Permits for Wastewater Treatment Facilities
• Watershed Assessments & Watershed Protection Plans
• TMDL Implementation Planning
• Source Water Assessments
• Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning
Discussion