The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit program which took effect in 1972 and is responsible for significant improvements in the quality of our nation’s waters. EPA delegated this permit authority to the States, and in Virginia, this permit is known as the VPDES permit. The County of Henrico has a VPDES permit which allows us to discharge our stormwater into state waters. This permit also has guidelines for improvements which the County implements on an ongoing basis. These improvements include BMPs, stream restorations, stream cleanings, and many others.
The VPDES program is making an impact by:
- Investigating illicit dischargers and eliminating the sources
- Informing the public of the importance of stormwater to our surrounding waterways and what they can do to help
- Maintaining the NPDES permit and making sure that the County of Henrico is compliant
- Tracking spills, overflows, and dumping within the County. This allows us to see patterns and find illegal dumping quicker
NPDES/VPDES Links
Water quality in urbanized areas is affected by increased runoff and pollutant loads. Read more about what you can do as a homeowner to prevent stormwater pollution.
- Dirty water flushed or poured down the drain in your home can impact water quality in the community. Learn more about where the dirty water goes and what you can do to protect local waterways.
- Henrico County Department of Public Utilities maintains the sanitary sewer system and ensures its functionality. Learn more from EPA on potential causes of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). If you suspect there is a SSO in Henrico County, contact DPU at 804-727-8700 or report a spill.
