Applied Ecosystem Services, LLC

Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) policy and regulation under the Clean Water Act (CWA) is difficult for regulatory agencies, and is open to challenge as being too restrictive or not sufficiently restrictive. The accepted standard for regulating nonpoint source pollutants are total daily maximum loads (TMDLs) which affect all natural resource operations, among others. Download the PDF.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are a regulatory management strategy to partition waste load allocations (WLAs) among various dischargers to keep concentrations within limits in the receiving water body. They are a step beyond the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting system for point source discharges by incorporating a broader perspective. Water quality management can be improved by using a comprehensive watershed approach that reflects cumulative effects of activities within a drainage basin.