What is Water Quality Trading?
Maryland’s Water Quality Trading Program (WQT) creates a public market for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions. This voluntary program is a collaborative effort between Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to enhance the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and local waters by accelerating the pace and reducing the cost of implementation efforts.
Who can participate in Water Quality Trading?
This page provides a portal for MDE's certification of credits generated by wastewater, stormwater, on-site sewage disposal (septic systems) and oyster aquaculture in addition to the COMAR 26.08.11 Trading Regulations. Certified credits can then be posted on the State marketplace, where applicable. It also provides information for how credits can be used to meet NPDES permit requirements.
Credits generated by agricultural practices will be certified by MDA and calculated through the Maryland Nutrient Tracking/Trading Tool (MNTT) found at www.mdnutrienttrading.com.
For the most up to date information, read through the frequently asked questions link above. This will answer general questions about the program and how to get started. Follow the tabs above for additional information.
Contact Information
Questions or comments related to agricultural credits should be directed to MDA's Trading Administrator:
NuTrade.mda@maryland.gov
