National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) locations represent sites from which pollutants are or may be discharged to surface water from a point source location and are required to obtain an NPDES permit. The NPDES permit program seeks to protect the beneficial uses, including drinking water, of all streams and lakes by regulating the amount of pollution that can enter waters of the United States by discharges from industrial, municipal, agricultural, or other point sources. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a point source means any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. Properly managed NPDES facilities play an important role in protecting drinking water sources.