NPDES stands for which of the following?

• A. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
• B. National Pollution Discharge Emission System
• C. National Pollutant Discharge Emission Eliminations
• D. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Source

Answer: (A)

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. This is the permit program under the Clean Water Act that regulates discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the United States, using permits to limit what can be discharged. The wording matters: it specifies “Pollutant” (not “Pollution”), uses “Discharge” and “Elimination,” and ends with “System.” The other options replace these words (Pollution vs Pollutant, Emission vs Elimination, or add extra words), so they don’t reflect the official name.