What is the primary purpose of Federal Effluent Limitations?

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Effluent limitations are the binding controls placed on discharges from point sources to protect water quality. They specify how much pollution, what kinds, and at what concentrations a facility may release into waters of the United States, typically through NPDES permits. These limits can be numeric or narrative and are designed to ensure discharges meet applicable water quality standards and do not harm aquatic life or human health. Wetlands protection is handled through other regulatory tools under the Clean Water Act (like Section 404 permitting), not through routine permit-based discharge limits. Oil spills are addressed by separate regimes (Oil Pollution Act and spill-response programs) rather than standard effluent limits. Non-point source pollution is managed with practices and plans to reduce diffuse runoff, not by limiting a specific point-source discharge. So the primary purpose is to restrict quantities, types, and concentrations of substances discharged from point sources.