Discharge Monitoring Report
Encyclopedia
A Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) is a United States
regulatory term for a periodic water pollution
report prepared by industries
, municipalities
and other facilities discharging to surface water
s. The facilities collect wastewater
samples, conduct chemical and/or biological
tests of the samples, and submit reports to a state
agency or the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). All point source
dischargers to ”Waters of the U.S.” must obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the appropriate agency, and many permittees are required to file DMRs.
permits, the agencies issue effluent limitations for specific pollutants, pursuant to the Clean Water Act
(CWA). The basis for these limitations depends on the type of discharging facility, the discharge characteristics and status of the specific surface water body receiving the discharge.
Most NPDES permits require facilities to submit monthly DMRs, but some permits require seasonal or semi-annual reporting. Facilities may collect and analyze samples more frequently, e.g. weekly, and summarize the results for the prescribed reporting period. Permits typically require reporting of wastewater flow and the results of one or more chemical tests, such as pH
, biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD), total suspended solids
(TSS), nutrients (nitrates and phosphorus
), various toxic pollutant
s, temperature, etc. Some permits also require aquatic biomonitoring of the receiving waterbody.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
regulatory term for a periodic water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
report prepared by industries
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and other facilities discharging to surface water
Surface water
Surface water is water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean; it is related to water collecting as groundwater or atmospheric water....
s. The facilities collect wastewater
Wastewater
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations...
samples, conduct chemical and/or biological
Bioindicator
Biological indicators are species used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem. They are any biological species or group of species whose function, population, or status can be used to determine ecosystem or environmental integrity. An example of such a group are the copepods and other...
tests of the samples, and submit reports to a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
agency or the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA). All point source
Point source
A point source is a localised, relatively small source of something.Point source may also refer to:*Point source , a localised source of pollution**Point source water pollution, water pollution with a localized source...
dischargers to ”Waters of the U.S.” must obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the appropriate agency, and many permittees are required to file DMRs.
NPDES permits and DMR reporting process
For permits other than stormwaterStormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
permits, the agencies issue effluent limitations for specific pollutants, pursuant to the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
(CWA). The basis for these limitations depends on the type of discharging facility, the discharge characteristics and status of the specific surface water body receiving the discharge.
- National technology-based standards apply to many industries (these standards are called “effluent guidelinesEffluent guidelinesEffluent guidelines are U.S. national standards for wastewater discharges to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works . The United States Environmental Protection Agency issues effluent guidelines for categories of industrial sources of water pollution under Title III of the Clean Water...
"), and to municipal sewage treatmentSewage treatmentSewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
plants. - Some dischargers are subject to water quality-based effluent limitations, derived from water quality standards for the adjacent water body.
- For pollutants not covered by the above circumstances, the agency may set technology-based limitations based on its "best professional judgment."
Most NPDES permits require facilities to submit monthly DMRs, but some permits require seasonal or semi-annual reporting. Facilities may collect and analyze samples more frequently, e.g. weekly, and summarize the results for the prescribed reporting period. Permits typically require reporting of wastewater flow and the results of one or more chemical tests, such as pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, biochemical oxygen demand
Biochemical oxygen demand
Biochemical oxygen demand or B.O.D. is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. The term also refers to a chemical procedure for...
(BOD), total suspended solids
Total suspended solids
Total suspended solids is a water quality measurement usually abbreviated TSS. It is listed as a conventional pollutant in the U.S. Clean Water Act. This parameter was at one time called non-filterable residue , a term that refers to the identical measurement: the dry-weight of particles trapped...
(TSS), nutrients (nitrates and phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
), various toxic pollutant
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
s, temperature, etc. Some permits also require aquatic biomonitoring of the receiving waterbody.
Accessing DMR Data
The CWA defines DMR data as publicly-available information (except for data that would reveal trade secrets). EPA houses DMR data in two information systems, the Permit Compliance System (PCS) and the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). These databases are available through EPA's "Envirofacts" website and Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO). EPA has also create the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool to help users determine who is discharging, what pollutants they are discharging and how much, and where they are discharging. EPA also allows users to search on "who Facility-level data (which allows comparisons of a facility's air, water and solid waste compliance) are available through the agency’s Facility registry systemFacility registry system
The Facility Registry System is a centrally-managed Environmental Protection Agency database that identifies facilities, sites or places of environmental interest in the United States.-Overview:...
.
See also
- Water qualityWater qualityWater quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
- :Category:Water quality indicators
- Total maximum daily loadTotal Maximum Daily LoadA Total Maximum Daily Load is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a value of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards...
External links
- EPA Envirofacts - access Discharge Monitoring Reports and related water permit info