Water Quality Regulation

Water Quality Regulatory and Legislative Affairs

• Policy on the Protection of the District's Groundwater [PDF]
• District of Columbia Integrated Reports to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding  the Clean Water Act [PDF]

Resources for Businesses

• District Stormwater Fee
• Separate Storm Sewer System MS4 Permit
• Flood Zone Building Permits
• Well Permit Application

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Documents

On September 21, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a new joint Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to limit trash in the Anacostia River in both the District of Columbia, and the state of Maryland, making the Anacostia the first interstate river in the nation with such a Clean Water Act trash limit.

• Anacostia Watershed
• Rock Creek Watershed
• Potomac River & Other Tributaries
• Recently Approved TMDLs
• Chesapeake Bay TMDL

Map of Known Wetlands within the District of Columbia [PDF] (Identified by Number)

Water Related Laws and Regulations

• Water Quality Regulations:

  -Title 21, Chapter 5 – Water Quality and Pollution
  -Title 21 Chapter 6 – Riparian Rights and Water Privileges
  -Title 21, Chapter 11 – Water Quality Standards
  -Title 21, Chapter 14 - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Regulations
  -Title 21, Chapter 19 – Water Quality Monitoring Regulations
  -Title 21, Chapter 22 – Water Pollution Enforcement

• Watershed Protection Regulations:

  -Title 21, Chapter 5 – Water Quality and Pollution
  -Title 21, Chapter 22 – Water Pollution Enforcement
  -Title 20, Chapter 31 – Flood Hazard Rules

• Stormwater Regulations:

  -Title 21, Chapter 5 – Water Quality and Pollution
  -Title 21, Chapter 10 – Retail Establishment Carry Out Bags

• Floodplain Management Regulations
• Water Pollution Control Act of 1984 (DC Law 5-188) [PDF]
• Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters (21 DCMR Ch. 11, Effective February 1, 2010) Regulations establishing water quality standards.
• Ground Water Quality Standards (21 DCMR §§ 1150-1158) [PDF]
• Water Quality Research Grant Regulations (21 DCMR Ch. 13) [PDF]
• Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Regulations (21 DCMR Ch. 14) [PDF]
• Water Quality Monitoring Regulations (21 DCMR Ch. 19) [PDF]
• Soil Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management Regulations

Disclaimer: These regulations on our website were proofed to the best of our ability. When legal matters are involved it is best to check the DC Register, DC Municipal Regulations, and DC Code for the printed versions. Please contact the Office of Documents to order printed versions, or call (202) 727-5090.

General Data and Reports

• Real-time Water Quality Monitoring on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.
• Summary of Ground-Water-Quality Data in the Anacostia River Watershed, Washington, DC, September– December 2005
• Lithologic Coring in the Lower Anacostia Tidal Watershed, Washington, DC, July 2002
• USGS Ground Water- Quality Data for the District of Columbia
• USGS Ground-Water Data for the District of Columbia
• USGS Real-Time Water Data for the District of Columbia

Fish and Wildlife Regulations

• Title 19, Chapter 15 - Fish and Wildlife