Implementation of Georgia’s new N.P.D.E.S. industrial storm water requirements

Recent changes in the General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) industrial storm water permit (herein called the “Permit”) are being implemented in Georgia. These changes require that numerous industries evaluate and monitor rainwater or snow runoff from their properties and ensure that the runoff is not carrying contaminants off their properties and into rivers and lakes. The level and intricacies of monitoring are significantly more complicated than the previous industrial storm water permit requirements. Eleven sites were reviewed and their compliance status to the existing NPDES industrial storm water Permit was evaluated. In all cases, none of the facilities were in compliance. Deficiencies ranged from not being involved in the program, to failing to adequately monitor storm water, to failure in keeping documents current as required by the Permit. The new requirements are expected to complicate an already difficult-to-implement program. Unless there is more education and enforcement, the likelihood for success will not be fully realized.Sponsored by: Georgia Environmental Protection Division U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Water Science Center U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Water Resources Institute The University of Georgia, Water Resources Facult