What two types of dischargers does the EPA recognize in its efforts to control water pollutants?

The correct answer is that the EPA recognizes direct and indirect dischargers in its regulatory efforts to manage water pollutants. A direct discharger is a facility that holds a permit to release pollutants directly into navigable waters, such as rivers and lakes. This type of discharger typically includes industries or wastewater treatment plants that discharge treated or untreated effluent directly into these bodies of water.

On the other hand, an indirect discharger is a facility that discharges wastewater into a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) rather than directly into navigable waters. These dischargers contribute to the overall water pollution load but do so through a treatment facility that is responsible for further treating the wastewater before it enters the water bodies.

Understanding the distinction between direct and indirect dischargers is vital for implementing proper compliance measures and ensuring that both types are regulated to protect water quality and public health effectively. This classification is fundamental to the structure of the Clean Water Act and underlies many regulatory requirements set forth by the EPA.