National Pollutant Discharge Elmination System (NPDES)

The Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 established the NPDES stormwater program. This program was developed to address water pollution by regulating the discharge of pollutants to waterways. 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) issues three types of stormwater permits under the NPDES Program (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, Construction, and Industrial).

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permits

Municipalities located in urban areas are required to obtain NPDES permit coverage for discharges from their municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency website provides more information on MS4 permit forms and program requirements

Construction Site Permits

Construction sites that disturb one acre of land or more are required to have coverage under the NPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from construction site activities.

Permit forms and program requirements

Illinois Environment Protection Agency

Industrial Permits

Material handling and storage, equipment maintenance and cleaning, and other activities at industrial facilities are often exposed to the weather. Runoff from rainfall or snowmelt that comes in contact with these activities can pick up pollutants, and transport them directly to a nearby river, lake, or indirectly via a storm sewer and degrade water quality.

Stormwater discharges associated with specific categories of industrial activity to be covered under NPDES permits.

Permit forms and program requirements can be found on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency website:
General Storm Water NPDES Permit for Industrial Activity