Wastewater
Issue Summary
U.S. EPA
States
Organizations/Non-Government Programs
Publications
Databases and Tools
Issue Summary
Under Clean
Water Act (CWSWA) regulations, local governments are
responsible for designing, planning, constructing, financing,
operating and maintaining wastewater treatment facilities, and the
conveyance systems, known as publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).
POTWs collect wastewater from homes, commercial buildings, and
industrial facilities and transport it via a series of pipes, known
as a collection system, to the treatment plant. Here, the POTW
removes harmful organisms and other contaminants from the sewage so
it can be discharged safely into the receiving stream. Generally,
POTWs are designed to treat domestic sewage only. However, POTWs also
receive wastewater from industrial (non-domestic) users. The General
Pretreatment Regulations establish responsibilities of Federal,
State, and local government, industry and the public to implement Pretreatment
Standards to control pollutants from the industrial
users which may pass through or interfere with POTW treatment
processes or which may contaminate sewage sludge.
Wastewater
collection and treatment activities may also include laboratory
operations, biosolids management and disposal, chemical
storage/hazardous materials management, and vehicle/equipment
management.
U.S. EPA
EPA's
Office of Wastewater Management (OWM). OWM oversees a
range of programs contributing to the well-being of the nation's
waters and watersheds. OWM focuses on control of water that is
collected in discrete conveyances (also called point sources),
including pipes, ditches, and sanitary or storm sewers. OWM is also
home to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the largest water
quality funding source, focused on funding wastewater treatment
systems, nonpoint source projects and estuary protection.
Municipal
Technologies. The Agency provides both direct and
indirect assistance in the area of municipal wastewater treatment
technologies. Direct assistance includes one-on-one discussions about
design, operation and maintenance of systems, and the identification
and solution of problems.
For regulations pertaining to pretreatment programs, go to:
Federal Funding for Utilities - Water/Wastewater - in National Disasters (Fed FUNDS). The purpose of Fed FUNDS is to provide tailored information to water and wastewater utilities about applicable federal disaster funding programs. The Fed FUNDS Web pages address national-level disasters, but could also apply to large-scale and even local disasters that result in service interruptions and significant damage to the critical water/wastewater infrastructure.
National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC). Through U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding, NETCSC assisted small communities with training materials, information, and referral services in the areas of wastewater and drinking water. Through the efforts of technical assistance providers and trainers the program benefits local decision-makers, operations personnel, regulatory officials, environmental consultants, and others by aiding their efforts to improve the public health and water utilities management of their communities. NETCSC's training materials and products are currently available.
States
State
Regulations Resource Locator. Find environmental
regulations, link to state agencies, retrieve agency news, and
download sector-specific resources.
Organizations/Non-Government
Programs
The
Water Environment Federation. The Water Environment
Federation (WEF) is an international not-for-profit educational and
technical organization of over 40,000 water experts.
Publications
View Municipalities and
Wastewater Treatment Plants publications:
Databases and Tools
Local
Limits Development Guidance. The
Office of Wastewater Management of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) Office of Water prepared this guidance document
to assist municipalities that own or operate publicly owned treatment
works (POTWs) in developing and implementing local pretreatment
programs.
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