National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

The NPDES permit program, created by the Clean Water Act, addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States.  

Charles County has been mandated by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) under its current NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, to restore 20 percent of the County's existing untreated impervious area. This goal was defined in order to provide controls of runoff from developed lands and improve water quality within the County's streams.