Permits Issued in Oregon to Protect Groundwater
-
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES)
-
On-site Waste Water Treatment Construction-Installation Permit
Key to agencies in table:
DEQ = Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
WRD = Oregon Water Resources Department
ODA = Oregon Department of Agriculture
US EPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency
DLCD = Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
|
|
|||
| Type of Permit | Issuing Agency |
Description | Effect on Groundwater |
|
|
|||
| Water Right | WRD | All water belongs to the state, but rights to use the water are issued based on the order of requests--first in time, first in right. | Water Rights can be managed to ensure that the groundwater resource is not depleted. |
| National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) | DEQ (under authority of US EPA) | Sewage treatment and industrial facilities that discharge wastewater to surface waters must have a permit specifying the acceptable level of pollutants allowed in the wastewater. | Because surface water and groundwater interact, the NPDES permit also protects groundwater, especially near surface water bodies. |
| Water Pollution Control Facility Permit (WPCF) | DEQ | Any discharge that does not go directly to surface waters, but has the potential of reaching surface water or groundwater must receive a permit for allowable contaminants. | The WPCF protects groundwater from contamination that leaches from the land surface or is introduced below ground. |
| Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) | ODA | This is a special type of WPCF permit for handling animal waste. | In addition to the potential of animal waste to pollute surface waters, nitrate can leach to groundwater from land application of manure as fertilizer. |
| Underground Injection Control Registration (UIC) | DEQ Underground Injection Control Program | All structures that introduce or dispose of fluids below ground must be registered. | The registration process ensures that contaminants do not reach groundwater, specifically drinking water supplies. |
| On-Site Waste Water Treatment Construction-Installation Permit | DEQ On-Site Program often managed by County Health or Development Department | Most domestic septic systems are exempt from the WPCF permit and UIC registration, but they still must receive a permit for construction. | The permitting process ensures that the soil and other site characteristics are adequate to treat wastewater before it reaches groundwater. |
| Local city or county planning department with statewide guidance by DLCD | Permits must be consistent with the approved Land-Use Plan of the jurisdiction. Statewide Planning Goal 5 requires that land use not affect groundwater adversely in certain areas. | Septic systems on small lots can increase the concentration of nitrate and other contaminants in groundwater. Permits can set minimum lot size. | |
|
|
For more information see the DEQ Water Quality Permits Website.