Does Groundwater Discharge Include Stormwater Runoff?
Storm water runoff is water flowing off the land into streams and the ground after a rainstorm. This stormwater is often contaminated with the chemicals and products used on the land off which the stormwater runs. EPA regulates stormwater discharges associated with agriculture. At the time of publication, EPA exempts from permitting agricultural stormwater discharges and agricultural return flows composed entirely of return flow from irrigated areas. However, EPA does not exempt agricultural return flows that are not composed entirely of return flows from irrigated agriculture. For instance, a ditch containing fertilizers or pesticides entering navigable waterways is subject to the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act. EPA has stricter stormwater runoff requirements for industrial and municipal runoff. It is also important to note that the building of a structure (barn, stables, etc) that disturbs more that one acre of ground (digging a foundation, setting pilings, etc) needs
