Former National Compliance Initiative: Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters
In FY 2019, EPA modified this NCI to address significant noncompliance by all individually permitted NPDES permittees. See National Compliance Initiative: Reducing Significant Non-Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for more information on this new NCI.
Problem
Far too many of our lakes, rivers and streams have water quality impairments, which can threaten drinking water sources and impact how much surrounding communities are able to use and enjoy them. The pollutants most often responsible for these impairments are nutrients, metals, and those that cause organic enrichment/oxygen depletion.
Goal
The objective of this initiative is to improve surface water quality and reduce potential impacts on drinking water by assuring that NPDES permittees are complying with their permits.
Actions
The following map and chart show EPA’s actions in targeting and reducing illegal discharges to water by industrial polluters.
Map of inspections and addressing actions at high priority industrial water discharger facilities
More Information
View EPA’s Discharge Monitoring Report Pollutant Loading Tool, which provides various data about water pollution discharges across the country.
Read about the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program, which addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into U.S. waters.