What are TMDLs and why are they important?
A – “TMDL” establishes the a total maximum daily load of an impairing substance or stressor that a water body can assimilate and still meet Water Quality Standards (WQSs) and allocates that load among pollution contributors.. Under the Federal Clean Water Act, Maryland was supposed to have come up with TMDLs for all the Chesapeake Bays waters and tributaries years ago. This has not occurred. These regulations will set the maximum amounts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus that are allowed to be put into a watershed from both point and non-point sources. This will necessitate better wastewater treatment, storm water management, agricultural runoff prevention, and land use practices. The following MDE website will give you more complete information on TMDLs.
