An outfall is the discharge point of a waste stream into a body of water; alternatively it may be the outlet of a river, drain or a sewer where it discharges into the sea, a lake or ocean.
[2] Issuing permits for storm water is delegated to the individual states that are authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[3] Outfalls from sewage plants can be up to 20 feet (6.1 m) in diameter and release 4,000 US gallons per second (55,000 m3/h) of treated human waste miles from the shore.
A wastewater treatment system discharges treated effluent to a water body from an outfall.
An ocean outfall may be conveyed several miles offshore, to discharge by nozzles at the end of a spreader or T-shaped structure.