NPDES General Permits

General NPDES wastewater permits currently exist for the following activities:

  • Non-contact cooling water discharges;
  • Petroleum-based groundwater remediation;
  • Sand dredging;
  • Seafood packaging; and
  • Domestic discharges from single-family residences.
  • Pesticides
  • Conjunctive Water Uses

Current List of Active and Expired General Permits

To obtain a Certificate of Coverage under a general permit, a Notice of Intent (permit application) should be submitted to the NPDES Unit.  Links to the appropriate NPDES General permit applications are listed below.  Click on the green button to access application forms and the technical bulletin which explains each permit's requirements in more detail.  Please read the technical bulletin before submitting your application. 

After completing your application, please submit 1 original and 2 copies of your application package to the following mailing address:  

Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Permitting Section - NPDES
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617

By applying for your permit renewal in a timely manner, which includes either the payment of all annual fees OR submission of a renewal form, your CoC is automatically extended, as per NCGS § 150B-3.  NPDES wastewater CoCs are eligible for automatic renewal only if all annual fees are paid.

Permit # Description New Applications Renewal Applications Technical Bulletins
NCG500000 Non-contact cooling water, boiler blowdown, cooling tower, condensate, hydroelectric dams Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG500000
NCG510000 Groundwater Remediation (petroleum) Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG510000
NCG520000 Sand Dredging Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG520000
NCG530000

Fish & Seafood Packing/Rinsing/Fish Farms

Frequently Asked Questions for the NCG530000 Permit

 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG530000
NCG550000 Single Family Residence Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG550000
NCG560000 Pesticides
Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) Template		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 Word - Fillable Form
PDF - Printable Form		 NCG560000
NCG580000 Re-use From Conjunctive Use Reclaim Water Systems      
NCG590000

Water Treatment Plant Dischargers - Backwash Wastewater from Green Sand & Conventional Systems

(see more guidance below)

EPA Form 1, plus

EPA From 2C: Tables A and

C, and Table B (if believed 

to be present)

   NCG590000

Guidance for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) General Permit (NCG590000)

To be considered for coverage under NCG590000 general permit, please include the following information along with EPA Form 1 and 2C:

  • A Cover Letter should be included with the application stating you have reviewed the conditions set forth in the NCG590000 general permit and would like to be considered for coverage. Please also state you understand that upon issuance of a general permit, the individual NPDES permit for your facility will be rescinded.
    •  If this is a Conventional WTP, Whole Effluent Toxicity tests shall be performed annually and comply with a "Pass" permit limitation.
    •  NCG590000 requires all WTPs to comply with a turbidity effluent limitation.
  • Fees:
    • Please submit a $100.00 application fee (check made payable to NCDENR) for NEW Greensand WTPs that do not discharge to HQW or ORW waters.
    • No fee is required for Greensand and Conventional WTPs seeking individual permit renewal and requesting to be considered for the general permit.