Abstract: The pollutant discharge permit system, served as a core policy for the environmental management of stationary point sources, will be entirely established and implemented in China, and the task is very urgent. The existing discharge standards provide the requirements of discharge concentration, water quantity or discharge load of water pollutants. Whether the total discharge amount permit can be built up based on the discharge standards was discussed. The theory basis, primary formulae, applicability, advantage and disadvantage of the method were systematically studied, and pulp and paper industry was taken as an example to estimate the total amount discharge amount permit. It was shown that the total amount discharge amount permit based on discharge standards of water pollutants is a scientific, effective and practical method. It is very helpful for the implementation of discharge permit system, and can be used as the reference value of total discharge permit and therefore improve the environmental management efficiency and pollution control capability in China.