Definition of Discharge

A discharge is defined by the Clean Water Act as the addition of any pollutant (including animal manure or contaminated waters) to navigable waters. Navigable waters are broadly defined as any surface water source, whether in man-made ditches or natural streams, that leave an operator's property. Consider these key points:

• Navigable waters are broadly defined to ensure that contaminated water does not leave an operator's property and end up in a stream or reservoir. Irrigation ditches often terminate at a stream. Therefore, a release of manure or wastewater into an irrigation ditch may be considered a discharge.
  
• There is no minimum volume required for a release to be considered a discharge.
  
• Facilities are not allowed by law to discharge unless they are permitted and then only during a storm event greater or equal to a 25 year, 24 hour storm.