State Laws
The Georgia Water Quality Control Act provides the principal requirements under which the state implements the federal Clean Water Act, including permitting programs. The Water Quality Control Act also establishes water quality standards for every body of water in the state.
The water quality standards include a designated use for each water body, which describes and defines the maximum levels of pollutants that may exist in the water, and an "anti-degradation" statement, which prohibits high quality waters from being degraded. Generally, the standards of NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits issued to municipalities, industries and other dischargers are sufficiently stringent to ensure that state water quality standards will not be violated by the proposed wastewater discharge.
Printed copies of Georgia’s Rules and Regulations for Water Quality Control are usually available free of charge at the water protection branch at: EPD (404-362-2680), the state attorney general’s office, and the EPA regional office.
A copy of the Georgia Water Quality Control Act is available online. Scroll down to Water Quality Act, O.C.G.A. 12-5-20.
A copy of the Water Quality Control Act’s implementing regulations is also available online (click on 391-3-6 Water Quality Control).
Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act
Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act (GESA) was passed in 1975 with the goal of implementing a statewide program to protect Georgia's waters from soil erosion and sediment deposition, primarily originating from land disturbing activities (clearing, grading, and other construction-related activities).
GESA has been amended many times, most recently, to modified the law to more closely mirror the provision for the management of construction site stormwater required under the Construction Stormwater General Permit .
For the full text of GESA
For implementing regulations
Public Notices of Proposed Permits and Regulatory Changes:
Public notices are available for you to find out if there any new permits, regulations, or other actions proposed that may affect your local waterways. Click here to view scrolling list of current public notices.
Metropolitan River Protection Act
The Metropolitan River Protection Act (MRPA), O.C.G.A. 12-5-440, et seq., was passed in 1973 to provide special protection to the Chattahoochee River based on the growing threats to the quality of this drinking water supply source. MRPA established a 2000-foot corridor on both banks of the Chattahoochee between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek, which was extended to the southern limits of Douglas and Fulton Counties in 1998. MRPA also required the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to develop and adopt a plan to protect this river corridor from the negative effects of development, such as erosion and sedimentation, increased storm water runoff and the pollutants in runoff from lawns, driveways and parking lots.
The Chattahoochee Corridor Plan (Plan) was adopted by ARC and sets standards for development in the corridor. MRPA requires all land-disturbing activity to be reviewed under the Plan. ARC reviews proposed construction, building, clearing or landscaping activities under Plan standards and issues findings based on the reviews. Local governments issue approvals based on ARC findings, monitor corridor development and enforce MRPA and the Plan.
Please also visit these sections:
Federal Laws
Local Ordinances
