Discharge to Surface Waters - Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

The Clean Water Act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program to limit pollutants getting into streams, rivers and bays. DEQ administers the program as the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES).

The agency issues permits for:

All point source discharges to surface waters
Dischargers of stormwater from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)
Dischargers of stormwater from Industrial Activities

The agency also issues Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) permits to dischargers of stormwater from Construction Activities. Please visit the Stormwater-Construction webpage for all construction-related VPDES questions.

Point sources are categorized based on the type of discharge and volume:

Major: Sewage with a design volume equal to or greater than 1.0 million gallons per day and industrial discharges requiring EPA review.
Minor: Commercial, small industrial and sewage of less than 1.0 million gallons per day
General: Typically small volumes of low potency pollutants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains authority to review applications and permits for "major" dischargers, a distinction based on discharge quantity and content.

VPDES permits for surface coal mines are issued by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.

Individual Permits

DEQ issues individual permits to both municipal and industrial facilities. Permit requirements, special conditions, effluent limitations and monitoring requirements are determined for each facility on a site specific basis in order to meet applicable water quality standards. Questions about individual permits for specific facilities should be addressed to the DEQ Regional Office that serves the area where the facility is located. An Excel spreadsheet listing the current VPDES Individual Permits along with location information and contacts can be downloaded here. Statuses of Individual Permit Applications can be viewed here.

Application Forms

CTC/CTO and Miscellaneous Forms/Resources

CTC Application

CTC Application for Industrial Reuse

CTC Application Instructions

CTC Application Instructions for Industrial Reuse

CTC Application Instructions for Municipal

CTO Application

CTO Application for Industrial Reuse

CTO Application Instructions

CTO Application Instructions For Industrial Reuse

Reliability Classification Worksheet

Flyer - Guidelines for Discharges from Swimming Pools

Flyer - Managing Waste from Wineries

Fundraising Car Wash Guidelines

Flyer - Guidelines for Charity Car Wash Fundraisers

Car washes to raise funds for charities, schools activities or community groups often occur in densely populated urban areas. Car washing activities can have a significant impact on water quality if not properly managed. Wash water from these activities may flow into a storm drain, which may be regulated under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program.

This program regulates the stormwater discharges through storm sewers owned or operated by local, state or federal government entities. Releases from car wash fund raisers are not considered stormwater discharges by DEQ, but may be restricted by local governments or the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) under their MS4 programs. Before conducting a car wash fund-raiser, contact your local government (environmental/sanitary section) to ensure it is allowable and to obtain any local approval(s) that may be necessary. Any fundraiser car washes that discharge to an MS4 storm drain are required by law to use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners.

With proper best management practice (BMP) implementation, car wash fund-raisers can be conducted to avoid or minimize releases that reach storm sewers or surface waters. Following these BMPs, any releases from car wash fund-raisers are not expected to contain pollutants in concentrations that are toxic or would cause or contribute to violations of the Virginia Water Quality Standards, (9VAC25-260). Therefore, control of the discharge under the VPDES permit¹ issued by DEQ is generally not necessary to protect water quality, provided the guidelines outlined below are followed.

Use of these guidelines is intended for car wash fund-raisers that are temporary and intermittent in nature, and not for commercial, business vehicle wash activities that are regulated by the general permit. Use of these guidelines does not relieve the owner of responsibility for any environmental impacts and associated penalty liability that occur as a result of a release.

BMP Guidelines

When possible, partner with a commercial car wash where wastewater is properly treated.
Wash vehicles in an area designed for vehicle washing where the water is conveyed to the sanitary sewer system for treatment (not the storm sewer system). The local sewer authority should always be contacted for approval and/or specific requirements before disposal of wash water into the sanitary sewer system.
Wash on an area that absorbs water, such as grass, gravel or other permeable surfaces that allow water to infiltrate into the ground rather than run off the ground surface.
Avoid washing cars on impermeable surfaces such as concrete or asphalt unless it drains to a vegetated area.
Use a plug, seal, boom or other device to block storm drain(s) to prevent the wash water from entering the storm sewer system. Accumulated wash water should be pumped to a vegetated area or allowed to evaporate to avoid a discharge. Be sure to check with the local sewer authority before disposal into the sanitary sewer system.
Use biodegradable, phosphate-free water-based cleaners only. Any fundraiser car washes that discharge to an MS4 storm drain are required by law to use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners.
Minimize water usage. Use hoses with nozzles that automatically turn off when left unattended.
Do not clean engines or wheels with any cleaning agents involving emulsifiers, degreasers (excluding kitchen dish soaps), strong acids, caustics, or other metal brighteners.
Immediately contain and clean any spills that occur.
Empty buckets of soapy water to the sanitary sewer via a drain, sink or toilet.
Washing on sunny days is optimal as evaporation of wash water is accelerated.
If a release occurs from the wash site, ensure it is free from any foam and/or sheen.

Before conducting car wash fund-raisers, check with your local government to ensure it is allowable and to obtain any necessary approvals. Some localities may have designated locations where these activities can be held to minimize water quality impacts. Some localities also may provide car wash kits that address BMPs that will help manage the activity and minimize impacts.

¹Point source discharges to the storm sewer or directly to surface water from vehicle washing are governed by the General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for Vehicle Wash Facilities and Laundry Facilities (9VAC25-194). The general permit covers discharges of wastewater from any fixed or mobile operation where the manual, automatic or self-service exterior washing of vehicles is conducted.

VPDES Permit Writers' Manual

VPDES Permit Writers' Manual (All Sections)

Section I Introduction

Section II Application and Application Review

Section III Issuance & Reissuance Procedures

Section IV Preparing Permit Limits

Section V Modification and Termination Procedures

Section VI Public Participation and Public Hearing Procedures

Section VII Contact Info

Section VIII_WET Manual

Section IN-1 Industrial Permit Drafting

Section IN-2 Industrial Stormwater Procedures

Section IN-3 Standard Industrial Permits

Section MN-1 Municipal Permit Drafting

Section L Letters

Overview of Updates

General Permits

General permits are written for a general class of dischargers and adopted as regulations. Since they are regulations, they must be adopted using the Administrative Process Act requirements, which specify a standard adoption process and public participation/public input procedures.

Questions about general permit coverage for specific facilities should be addressed to the DEQ Regional Office that serves the area where the facility is located. An Excel spreadsheet listing the current VPDES General Permits along with location information can be downloaded here.

The State Water Control Board has adopted the following VPDES general permits:

Domestic Sewage Discharges of Less than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons per Day (VAG40)

Regulation: 9VAC25-110 (Also known as the "Single Family Home" general permit.)

2021 Reissuance

Additional Forms

Seafood Processing Facilities (VAG52)

Remediation of Contaminated Sites and Hydrostatic Tests (VAG83)

Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity (VAR05)

Non-Metallic Mineral Mining (VAG84)

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (VAG01)

Concrete Products Facilities (VAG11)

Vehicle Wash and Laundry Facilities (VAG75)

Non-Contact Cooling Water Discharges (VAG25)

Pesticides Discharges (VAG87)

Watershed Permit for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Discharges and Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (VAN00)

Regulation: 9VAC25-820

Fact Sheet
Registration Statement
Exchange Compliance Plan 2023 Annual Update (Virginia Nutrient Credit Exchange Association)
2021 Nutrient Loads
2023 Nutrient Loads
2023 Nutrient Trades Report

Nutrient Trading Registration Lists

Potable Water Treatment Plants (VAG64)

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) (VAR04)

Virginia DEQ

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Discharge to Surface Waters - Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Individual Permits

BMP Guidelines

General Permits