point sources of pollution are regulated by the cwa through water quality trading programs.
point sources of pollution are regulated by the cwa through water quality trading programs.
how are point sources of pollution regulated by the cwa?
water quality trading programs
command and control policies are direct government regulations. the clean water act (cwa) is designed with this kind of direct command and control regulation for point source pollution. however, command and control regulations through the cwa apply to nonpoint source pollution a lesser extent. total maximum daily loads (tmdls) are one tool in the cwa that directly regulates nps effluent. as noted earlier, the cwa "requires" state governments to set tmdls based on both point source and nps effluent. however, conventional command and control policies could potentially influence industry structure and cause political reluctance in the event that it could bankrupt businesses.
nonpoint source water pollution regulations in the united states
phosphates enter the water ways through both non-point sources and point sources. non-point source (nps) pollution refers to water pollution from diffuse sources. nonpoint source pollution can be contrasted with point source pollution, where discharges occur to a body of water at a single location. the non-point sources of phosphates include: natural decomposition of rocks and minerals, storm water runoff, agricultural runoff, erosion and sedimentation, atmospheric deposition, and direct input by animals/wildlife; whereas: point sources may include: waste water treatment plants and permitted industrial discharges. in general, the non-point source pollution typically is significantly higher than the point sources of pollution. therefore, the key to sound management is to limit the input from both point and non-point sources of phosphate. high concentration of phosphate in water bodies is an indication of pollution and largely responsible for eutrophication.
wastewater quality indicators