Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. NPDES Permits Around the Nation

2017 & 2009 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) for Massachusetts & New Hampshire

On this page:
  • 2017 PWTG GP
  • 2009 PWTG GP
On other pages:
  • 2023 Final PWTG GP
  • 2023 Draft PWTF GP

2017 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP)

The Final 2017 NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Potable Water Treatment Facilities in Massachusetts (MAG640000) and New Hampshire (NHG640000) was signed on March 6, 2017 and became effective on that date (the date of signature). This permit replaces the previous PWTF GP that expired on October 2, 2014. The Final 2017 PWTF GP will expire on March 6, 2022, which is five (5) years from the effective date.

The Notice of Availability of the Final PWTF GP is currently being processed and will be published in the Federal Register as soon as possible. A copy of the draft Notice of Availability can be found below. In accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 23, the permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial review on March 20, 2017 (two weeks from the date of signature on the General Permit). Under section 509(b) of the Clean Water Act, judicial review of this General Permit can be requested by filing a petition for review in a United States Court of Appeals by July 18, 2017 (which is 120 days after the start date for judicial review above).

The PWTF GP provides coverage for potable water treatment facilities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire that discharge wastewater from one or more of the following treatment processes: Clarification, Coagulation, Media Filtration, Membrane filtration (not including reverse osmosis), and Disinfection. In general, facilities covered under this General Permit must discharge less than or equal to 1.0 million gallons per day (MGD).

The permit establishes permit eligibility conditions, notice of intent requirements, effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions, and best management practices. The eligibility requirements for coverage under the General Permit are discussed in Part 1 of the permit.

Permittees seeking coverage under the Final 2017 PWTF GP, including those facilities covered under the PWTF GP that expired on October 2, 2014, must submit a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI), containing the information in Appendix IV, to both EPA - Region I and the appropriate state agency (where applicable), as follows:

  • Proposed New Discharges: Facilities with proposed new discharges that are seeking coverage under this General Permit must submit an NOI to EPA and MassDEP (if applicable) or NHDES, post-marked at least 60 days prior to the commencement of discharge.

  • Existing Permitted Discharges Authorized Under Last PWTF GP: Facilities with existing coverage under the PWTF General Permit that expired on October 2, 2014, and that wish to seek coverage under this General Permit, must file an NOI to EPA and MassDEP (if applicable) or NHDES, for coverage under this General Permit within 90 days of the effective date of this permit.

  • Facilities with Existing Discharges Not Authorized Under Last PWTF GP and which Use Aluminum in Treatment Process: Facilities that use aluminum in their treatment process but were not authorized under the PWTF General Permit that expired on October 2, 2014 (and submitted an application for an Individual Permit instead) are eligible to seek coverage under this General Permit. Such facilities must file an NOI to EPA and MassDEP (if applicable) or NHDES for coverage under this General Permit within 6 months of the effective date of this permit. Since facilities under this category are required to submit more extensive water quality sampling data (i.e., aluminum) than the other categories, additional time to submit the NOI has been granted. See Appendix IV, particularly Section C.12, for additional details regarding the required water quality sampling.

Refer to Part 4.3 of the permit and Appendix IV for complete details about submitting an NOI.

EPA and MassDEP (when applicable) or NHDES will review the NOI. The facility will receive written notification from EPA stating whether permit coverage and authorization to discharge under the General Permit is approved.

The PWTF GP, and all associated documents, are available from the web links below.

  • Draft Notice of Availability Federal Register Notice for Final PWTF GP (pdf) (647 KB)
  • Final Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (pdf) (830 KB)
  • Appendix I - Standard Conditions and Definitions (pdf) (294 KB)
  • Appendix II - National Historic Preservation Act Review & Requirements (pdf) (430 KB)
  • Appendix III - Endangered Species Act Guidance & Eligibility Criteria (pdf) (296 KB)
  • Appendix IV - Notice of Intent (NOI) Instructions and Suggested Notice of Intent Format (pdf) (373 KB)
  • Appendix V - Notice of Termination (NOT) Instructions and Suggested Format (pdf) (223 KB)
  • Appendix VI - Agency Addresses (pdf) (91 KB)
  • Appendix VII: Dilution Factor Calculations for Massachusetts and New Hampshire (pdf) (153 KB)
  • Fact Sheet (pdf) (835 KB)
  • Administrative Adjustments to Final PWTF GP (pdf) (191 KB)
  • EPA's PWTF GP No Effects Determination for Endangered Species Document to NMFS (pdf) (17.9 MB)
  • NMFS' Concurrence Letter on EPA's PWTF GP No Effects Determination for Endangered Species (pdf) (101 KB)

EPA Contacts

NOI Processing and Technical Questions: Nathan Chien (Chien.Nathan@epa.gov); Telephone 617-918-1649; Mail Code WMP06-1.

State Contacts

MassDEP

  • Xiaodan Ruan (Xiaodan.Ruan@state.ma.us), 617-654-6517

NHDES

  • Hayley Franz (Hayley.Franz@des.nh.gov), 603-271-0671

Notices of Intent

Notices of Intent (NOI) will be posted on this page for a minimum of 30 days after EPA receives them. Please contact Olga Vergara if you have any questions regarding NOIs. Older NOIs are listed in the 2009 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) NOI archive. EPA will also post Notices of Termination (NOT), if received.

Notices of Intent: Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP)
Site Name - NOI(s) City, State (Receiving Water) Permit Number Authorization(s) NOT(s)
Belmont Reservoir Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (1.2 MB) Hinsdale, MA (Belmont Reservoir) MAG640064 2022/03/03 (pdf) (140 KB)  
Austin Brook Reservoir Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (1.4 MB) Chester, MA (Austin Brook) MAG640035 2022/03/03 (pdf) (140 KB)  
Long Pond Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (1.2 MB) Blandford, MA (Wheeler Brook MAG640071 2022/03/03 (pdf) (140 KB)  
Dopping Brook Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (6.6 MB) Holliston, MA  (Dopping Brook) MAG640066 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
Harold E. Willis Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (7.2 MB) Walpole, MA (Mine Brook) MAG640019 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
E.H. Sargent Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (2.9 MB) Wilmington, MA (Martins Brook) MAG640020 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
Root Reservoir Water Treatment Facility (pdf) (5.7 MB) Lenox, MA (Lenox Mountain Brook) MAG640015 2022/02/28 (pdf) (155 KB)  
Gates Pond Water Treatment Facility - Hudson (pdf) (2.8 MB) Berlin, MA (Hogbrode Tributary to Assabet River) MAG640014 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
Randolph Holbrook Water Treatment Plant - Holbrook (pdf) (5.8 MB) Randolph, MA (Great Pond Reservoir System) MAG640032 2022/02/28 (pdf) (157 KB)  
Coolidge Avenue Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (2 MB) Peabody, MA (unnamed stream to Spring Pond) MAG640006 2022/02/28 (pdf) (181 KB)  
Baldwin Pond Water Treatment Facility (pdf) (14.9 MB) Wayland, MA (Baldwin Pond) MAG640075 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
Raymond F Reardon Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (494 KB) Lynn, MA (Breeds Pond) MAG640079 2022/02/28 (pdf) (156 KB)  
Scituate Well 18B Treatment Facility (pdf) (9 MB) Scituate, MA (Hatherly Pond) MAG640086 2021/05/18 (pdf) (154 KB)  
Greensand FF Well No. 5 (pdf) (3.8 MB) Holliston, MA (Bogastow Brook) MAG640085 2021/01/12 (pdf) (151 KB)  
Worcester Water Filtration Plant (pdf) (3.4 MB) Worcester, MA (Holden 2 Reservoir) MAG640052 2020/11/03 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Arlington Ave WTP (pdf) (3.4 MB) Salem & Beverly, MA (Wenham Lake Reservoir) MAG640059 2021/01/12 (pdf) (151 KB)  
Newburyport WTP (pdf) (1.8 MB) Newburyport, MA (Merrimack River) MAG640018 2021/05/18 (pdf) (149 KB)

2020/11/03 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Winona Ave WTF (pdf) (2.7 MB) Peabody, MA (Winona Pond) MAG640028 2020/11/03 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Great Pond WTP (pdf) (390 KB) Braintree (Lower Great Pond) MAG640082 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Roaring Brook Reservoir WTF (pdf) (3.5 MB) South Deerfield (Roaring Brook) MAG640005 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Arthur J. Bilodeau WTP (pdf) (2.9 MB) Weymouth (Mill River) MAG640080 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Rockport WTP (pdf) (11.6 MB) Rockport (Cape Pond) MAG640021 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Andover WTP (pdf) (5.6 MB) Andover (Haggetts Pond) MAG640058 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.4 MB)
 
Crystal Lake WTF (pdf) (4.4 MB) Gardner (Crystal Lake) MAG640041 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Walter J. Sullivan WPP (pdf) (1.4 MB) Cambridge (Fresh Pond Reservoir) MAG640040 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Northampton WTP (pdf) (1.8 MB) Northampton (Main Street Reservoir) MAG640034 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Great Sandy Bottom Pond WTP (pdf) (1.8 MB) Pembroke (Great Sandy Bottom Pond) MAG640074 2019/11/07 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2019/10/21 (pdf) (1.5 MB)
 
Lowell Regional WU (pdf) (6.5 MB) Lowell, MA (Merrimack River) MAG640055 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Dighton WTP (pdf) (486 KB) North Dighton, MA (Segreganset River) MAG640067 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Amesbury WTF (pdf) (842 KB) Amesbury, MA (Powwow River) MAG640065 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Winchester WTF (pdf) (3 MB) Winchester, MA (South Reservoir) MAG640037 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Gravelly Pond WTF (pdf) (1.9 MB) Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA (Gravelly Pond) MAG640003 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Ashburnham & Winchendon Joint WTP (pdf) (1.1 MB) Ashburnham, MA (Upper Naukeag Lake) MAG640045 2019/06/14 (pdf) (1.5 MB)  
Haverhill WTP (pdf) (2.2 MB) Haverhill, MA (Kenoza Lake) MAG640084 2018/10/09 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Richmond Park WTF (pdf) (2.3 MB) Halifax, MA (Turkey Swamp to Palmer Mill Brook) MAG640008 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Brockton WFP (pdf) (562 KB) Pembroke, MA (Silver Lake) MAG640029 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Rutland WTF (pdf) (276 KB) Rutland, MA (Muschopauge Pond) MAG640033 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Billerica WTP (pdf) (20.2 MB) Billerica, MA (Winning Brook) MAG640050 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
North Andover WTP (pdf) (513 KB) North Andover (Lake Cochichewick) MAG640078 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Fall River WTF (pdf) (4.8 MB) Fall River, MA (North Watuppa Pond) MAG640081 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Vernon C. Russell WFP (pdf) (9.1 MB) Middleton, MA (Outlet Stream from Middleton Pond) MAG640062 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Ipswich WTF (pdf) (4.2 MB) Ipswich, MA (Bull Brook) MAG640025 2018/06/26 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
East Chelmsford Water District WTP (pdf) (2.5 MB) East Chelmsford, MA (Black Brook) MAG640057 2018/04/18 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Flints Pond WTP (pdf) (4.4 MB) Lincoln, MA (Flints Pond) MAG640051 2020/03/12 (pdf) (1.5 MB)

2020/02/20 (pdf) (65 KB)

2018/04/18 (pdf) (1.4 MB)
 
Howe St Regional WTP (pdf) (644 KB) Ashland, MA (Hopkinton Reservoir) MAG640049 2018/04/18 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Merrimac WTP (pdf) (2.4 MB) Merrimac, MA (Lake Attitash) MAG640030 2018/04/18 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Somersworth Drinking Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (5.4 MB) Somersworth, NH (Salmon Falls River) NHG640014 2018/03/27 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Sudbury Water District Raymond Rd WTP (pdf) (15 MB) Sudbury, MA (Landham Brook) MAG640054 2018/03/27 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Lebanon Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (2.2 MB) Lebanon, NH (Mascoma River) NHG640012 2018/03/28 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Centennial Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (4.5 MB) Amherst, MA (Amethyst Brook) MAG640046 2018/03/27 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Gorham Water Filtration Plant (pdf) (2.5 MB) Gorham, NH (Moose Brook) NHG640002 2018/03/27 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Village District of Eastham (pdf) (5.5 MB) Grantham, NH (Bog Brook) NHG640008 2018/03/28 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Jackson Water Precinct (pdf) (3.9 MB) Jackson, NH (Ellis River) NHG640011 2021/01/12 (pdf) (139 KB)  
Sudbury Water District Well 8 WTP (pdf) (10 MB) Sudbury, MA (Hop Brook) MAG640056 2018/03/27 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Broadway Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (3.6 MB) Wakefield, MA (Crystal Lake) MAG640077 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Spectacle Pond Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (2.3 MB) Littleton, MA (Spectacle Pond) MAG640002 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Springfield Reservoir Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (3.6 MB) Springfield, MA (Higher Brook) MAG640022 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Walsh Avenue Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (5.2 MB) Auburn, MA (Dunn's Brook) MAG640004 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Southbridge Street Court Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (5.2 MB) Auburn, MA (Dunn's Brook) MAG640072 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Phillips Road Pumping Station #3 (pdf) (5.3 MB) Lynnfield, MA (Beaverdam Brook) MAG640017 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  
Georgetown Water Treatment Plant (pdf) (4.3 MB) Georgetown, MA (Parker River) MAG640048 2018/03/05 (pdf) (1.4 MB)  

2009 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP)

The Final 2009 NPDES Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) in Massachusetts (MAG640000) and New Hampshire (NHG640000) was signed on September 25, 2009. The Notice of Availability of these Final PWTF GPs was published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2009. Copies of the Final PWTF GPs, attachments e to the Final PWTF GPs, and the Response to Comments, are available from the web links below. The 2009 NPDES Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) expired on October 2, 2014. However, facilities covered under that permit are administratively continued until the 2016 PWTF GP becomes final.

The Final 2009 PWTF GP established permit eligibility conditions, Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements, effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions, and best management practices for facilities that discharge to waters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including both Commonwealth and Indian country lands) and the State of New Hampshire. This general permit replaced the Water Treatment Facility GP that expired on November 15, 2005.

2009 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) Documents

  • Federal Register Notice
  • Final Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (pdf) (440 KB)
  • Appendix I: Endangered Species Act Requirements (pdf) (247 KB)
  • Appendix II: Endangered Species Act: County Species List (pdf) (187 KB)
  • Appendix III: Historic Properties Requirements (pdf) (109 KB)
  • Appendix IV: Notice of Intent (NOI) Instructions and Suggested Form (pdf) (84 KB)
  • Appendix V: Notice of Termination (NOT) Instructions and Suggested Form (pdf) (122 KB)
  • Appendix VI: Agency Addresses (pdf) (85 KB)
  • Appendix VII: Dilution Factor Calculations for Massachusetts and New Hampshire (pdf) (102 KB)

Helpful Information and Links

  • Response to Comments (pdf) (299 KB)
  • Attachment A: Re-evaluation of Discharge Monitoring Report Aluminum Data (pdf) (115 KB)
  • Fact Sheet (pdf) (326 KB)
  • DMR Form (pdf) (23 KB)
  • USFW Endangers Species web site
  • National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places web site

Notices of Intent

Notices of Intent (NOI) were posted on this page for a minimum of 30 days after EPA received them. Please contact Nathan Chien (Chien.Nathan@epa.gov; Telephone 617-918-1649) if you have any questions regarding NOIs.

Older NOIs are listed in the PWTFGP NOI archive.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on September 4, 2024
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.