EPA’s DECENTRALIZED EPA’s DECENTRALIZED WASTEWATER WASTEWATER

MANAGEMENT GUIDELINESMANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

US EPA Office of Wastewater ManagementUS EPA Office of Wastewater Management

What are Decentralized What are Decentralized Wastewater Systems?Wastewater Systems?

A.K.A. . . . A.K.A. . . . – Septic SystemsSeptic Systems– Onsite SystemsOnsite Systems– Individual SystemsIndividual Systems– Cluster SystemsCluster Systems– Package PlantsPackage Plants– Large Capacity Septic Large Capacity Septic

SystemsSystems

States Regulate These States Regulate These Systems... So Why is EPA Systems... So Why is EPA

Getting Involved??Getting Involved??• Clean Water Act goals not being metClean Water Act goals not being met

• Major nonpoint source of pollution Major nonpoint source of pollution

• Lack of funding: Need alternatives to Lack of funding: Need alternatives to costly centralized treatment plantscostly centralized treatment plants

• Regulatory Issues, e.g., UIC, Regulatory Issues, e.g., UIC, Stormwater Phase II, NPDESStormwater Phase II, NPDES

Underground Injection Underground Injection Control ProgramControl Program

• Lawsuit addressed large septic capacity systemsLawsuit addressed large septic capacity systems

• Cesspools were bannedCesspools were banned

• Large Capacity Septic Systems (LCSSs):Large Capacity Septic Systems (LCSSs):

– Serve 20 or more people/day, sanitary waste onlyServe 20 or more people/day, sanitary waste only

– Estimated 300,000 LCSSs systems in U.S.Estimated 300,000 LCSSs systems in U.S.

– Regulatory determination acknowledges US EPA’s Regulatory determination acknowledges US EPA’s Decentralized Management GuidelinesDecentralized Management Guidelines as primary as primary tooltool

– No rulemaking at this time – try management firstNo rulemaking at this time – try management first

• 21% of homes use onsite or clustered treatment systems

(~ 25% of new construction)

• Nearly half are more than 30 years old

• 50% in suburban areas, rest in rural areas

• 5 - 15% malfunction each year

• 2nd highest threat to groundwater

Decentralized Systems are Decentralized Systems are a Significant Issue a Significant Issue

NationallyNationally

Water Quality ProblemsWater Quality Problems

EstuariesEstuaries GroundwaterGroundwater

ShellfishShellfish BedsBeds ImpairedImpaired WatersWaters

Sewage surfacing: Sewage surfacing: potential public health potential public health

threatthreat

Sewage surfacing: Sewage surfacing: potential threat to water potential threat to water

resourcesresources

What is What is Needed?Needed?

Improved management, including:Improved management, including:• Better planning and system clusteringBetter planning and system clustering• Improved owner awarenessImproved owner awareness• Licensed/certified practitionersLicensed/certified practitioners• Appropriate, risk-based application of Appropriate, risk-based application of

technology to the receiving technology to the receiving environment environment

• Long-term operation & maintenanceLong-term operation & maintenance• Inspections based on system type, Inspections based on system type,

location and receiving environmentlocation and receiving environment• Effective and affordable options for Effective and affordable options for

difficult sites, including clustered unitsdifficult sites, including clustered units• Consideration of all options Consideration of all options

(decentralized and centralized)(decentralized and centralized)

Treatment Technologies Treatment Technologies AvailableAvailable

• Media Filters (sand, gravel, peat, textile)Media Filters (sand, gravel, peat, textile)

• Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs)Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs)

• LagoonsLagoons

• Evapotranspiration BedsEvapotranspiration Beds

• Constructed WetlandsConstructed Wetlands

• UV DisinfectionUV Disinfection

• OthersOthers

Effluent PumpingEffluent Pumping

Intermittent Sand Intermittent Sand FilterFilter

Recirculating Sand Recirculating Sand FilterFilter

Textile FilterTextile Filter

Examples of Advanced Treatment Examples of Advanced Treatment TechnologiesTechnologies

Dispersal TechnologiesDispersal Technologies

• Septic Tank Effluent PumpingSeptic Tank Effluent Pumping

• Low Pressure PipeLow Pressure Pipe

• MoundsMounds

• Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation

• Chamber SystemChamber System

• Contour TrenchContour Trench

• Pressure DosingPressure Dosing

Mound SystemMound System

Contour TrenchContour Trench

Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation

Chamber SystemChamber System

Examples of Dispersal Technologies

Advanced Treatment Advanced Treatment CapabilitiesCapabilities

New Focus: Watertight Tanks, Risers, Effluent Filters

Vision for EPA’s DecentralizedVision for EPA’s DecentralizedWastewater ProgramWastewater Program

Actions:Actions:– Published the Published the Management GuidelinesManagement Guidelines and and HandbookHandbook

– Facilitating implementation by industry/partnersFacilitating implementation by industry/partners

– Coordinating with other health & water resource Coordinating with other health & water resource

programsprograms

– Encouraging & supporting certification/licensingEncouraging & supporting certification/licensing

– Assisting states with management programsAssisting states with management programs

– Promoting finding & fixing illegal and/or illicit dischargesPromoting finding & fixing illegal and/or illicit discharges

– Conducting outreach and regional workshops & forumsConducting outreach and regional workshops & forums

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems are appropriately managed,

perform effectively, protect human health and the environment,

and are a key component of our nation’s wastewater infrastructure

Management’s Management’s AdvantagesAdvantages

Elements of a Elements of a Comprehensive Comprehensive

Management ProgramManagement Program• Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

• PlanningPlanning

• Performance Req’tsPerformance Req’ts

• Training/CertificationTraining/Certification

LicensingLicensing

• Site EvaluationSite Evaluation

• DesignDesign

• Construction Construction

• Operation & Maint.Operation & Maint.

• Residuals Residuals ManagementManagement

• Inspections/MonitoringInspections/Monitoring

• Corrective ActionsCorrective Actions

• Record-Keeping/Record-Keeping/

ReportingReporting

• FinancingFinancing

The Traditional The Traditional Management FocusManagement Focus

• PermittingPermitting: prescribed limits : prescribed limits on acceptable sites; on acceptable sites; prescribed system designsprescribed system designs

• InstallationInstallation: oversight of : oversight of construction and installers construction and installers and/or licensing, registrationand/or licensing, registration

• O & MO & M: homeowner booklets : homeowner booklets and brochures, tank and brochures, tank pumping infopumping info

• Corrective actionsCorrective actions: repair or : repair or replacement required when replacement required when complaints verifiedcomplaints verified

Performance-Based Performance-Based ApproachApproach

• Siting and design:Siting and design:– Designing a system that meets Designing a system that meets

performance requirements based on site performance requirements based on site conditionsconditions• rather than requiring the site to meet rather than requiring the site to meet

prescriptive criteria (lot size, soils, depth to prescriptive criteria (lot size, soils, depth to groundwater, etc.) needed for the systemgroundwater, etc.) needed for the system

• System management:System management:– Management programs that provide Management programs that provide

perpetual system oversightperpetual system oversight• to protect public health and water resourcesto protect public health and water resources

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Performance-Based Siting Performance-Based Siting and Designand Design

• Characterize wastewater to be treatedCharacterize wastewater to be treated

• Assess site conditionsAssess site conditions

• Identify design boundariesIdentify design boundaries

• Identify desired performance Identify desired performance requirementsrequirements

• Determine design boundary loadingsDetermine design boundary loadings

• Assemble appropriate treatment trainAssemble appropriate treatment train

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EPA Voluntary Management EPA Voluntary Management Guidelines for Decentralized Guidelines for Decentralized

SystemsSystems• Guidelines finalized in 2003Guidelines finalized in 2003

• Objectives:Objectives:– Raise the quality of management programsRaise the quality of management programs– Promote consistent management approachesPromote consistent management approaches– Establish minimum levels of activityEstablish minimum levels of activity– Institutionalize the management conceptInstitutionalize the management concept

• Covers surface and subsurface dischargesCovers surface and subsurface discharges

• For existing, new, large, and small systemsFor existing, new, large, and small systems

Key Concepts in GuidelinesKey Concepts in Guidelines• Voluntary implementationVoluntary implementation• Comprehensive focusComprehensive focus• Inventories at a minimumInventories at a minimum• Performance-based approach to Performance-based approach to

overcome soil limitationsovercome soil limitations• O&M contracts and permitsO&M contracts and permits

– O&M contracts for advanced systemsO&M contracts for advanced systems– Operating permits for large systems, Operating permits for large systems,

clusters, and systems in high-risk clusters, and systems in high-risk areasareas

– NPDES permits for discharging NPDES permits for discharging systemssystems

• Find and remove illegal/illicit Find and remove illegal/illicit connections to storm sewersconnections to storm sewers

Key Concepts (cont.)Key Concepts (cont.)• Increased certification/licensingIncreased certification/licensing

• Target hot spots, high risk Target hot spots, high risk areas, certain system typesareas, certain system types

• Integrate management modelsIntegrate management models

• Progressive series of five levelsProgressive series of five levels– As resource sensitivity and As resource sensitivity and

technical complexity increase, so technical complexity increase, so does the management level (i.e., does the management level (i.e., the intensity of the management the intensity of the management programprogram

EPA Voluntary Management EPA Voluntary Management GuidelinesGuidelines

5 Suggested approaches to management5 Suggested approaches to management– Homeowner AwarenessHomeowner Awareness

– Maintenance ContractsMaintenance Contracts

– Operating PermitsOperating Permits

– RME Operation and MaintenanceRME Operation and Maintenance

– RME Ownership/ManagementRME Ownership/Management

RME = Responsible Management EntityRME = Responsible Management Entity

MANAGEMENT MODEL 1MANAGEMENT MODEL 1Homeowner Awareness of Operation Homeowner Awareness of Operation and Maintenance Needsand Maintenance Needs

• Covers conventional onsite Covers conventional onsite septic systemsseptic systems

• Low environmental Low environmental sensitivitysensitivity– i.e., adequate space, i.e., adequate space,

separation distances, etc.separation distances, etc.

• Local agency is aware of Local agency is aware of system locationssystem locations

• Periodic operation and Periodic operation and maintenance remindersmaintenance reminders

MANAGEMENT MODEL 2MANAGEMENT MODEL 2Maintenance ContractsMaintenance Contracts

• Electric/mechanical systems Electric/mechanical systems given more attentiongiven more attention

• Allows for more complex Allows for more complex optionsoptions– e.g., mounds and other media e.g., mounds and other media

filters, pressure dosed filters, pressure dosed systemssystems

• Maintenance contracts with Maintenance contracts with trained service providerstrained service providers

MANAGEMENT MODEL 3MANAGEMENT MODEL 3Operating PermitsOperating Permits

• Renewable operating permitsRenewable operating permits

• Regular reporting and Regular reporting and monitoringmonitoring

• Good for more sensitive sitesGood for more sensitive sites– lakes, drinking water aquiferslakes, drinking water aquifers

• Dependent on maintaining Dependent on maintaining performance requirementsperformance requirements

• Minimum for clusters, aerobic Minimum for clusters, aerobic units, large capacity systemsunits, large capacity systems

MANAGEMENT MODEL 4MANAGEMENT MODEL 4Responsible Management EntityResponsible Management Entity

Operation and MaintenanceOperation and Maintenance

• Management entity Management entity responsible for O & Mresponsible for O & M– Systems still owned by Systems still owned by

homeownershomeowners

• Ensures consistent Ensures consistent performanceperformance

• RME performs routine RME performs routine inspections & maintenanceinspections & maintenance

• Good for very sensitive areas Good for very sensitive areas - recreational uses, wellhead - recreational uses, wellhead protectionprotection

MANAGEMENT MODEL 5MANAGEMENT MODEL 5Responsible Management Entity Responsible Management Entity

Ownership and ManagementOwnership and Management

• Same as Model 4, except RME owns Same as Model 4, except RME owns the treatment system(s)the treatment system(s)

• Professional management of all Professional management of all activitiesactivities– Analogous to centralized Analogous to centralized

collection and treatmentcollection and treatment

• Allows area-wide watershed Allows area-wide watershed planning and managementplanning and management

• Very sensitive environmentsVery sensitive environments

• Reduces oversight by regulatory Reduces oversight by regulatory agencyagency

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Risk FactorsRisk Factors

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Inventory & maintenanceInventory & maintenance awarenessawareness

Maintenance contractsMaintenance contracts

Operating permitsOperating permits

RME O&MRME O&M

RME ownershipRME ownership

Application of the Five Model Application of the Five Model ProgramsPrograms

Onsite and Cluster Systems Onsite and Cluster Systems Management HandbookManagement Handbook

• Describes process for developing Describes process for developing management programsmanagement programs

• Includes case studies and Includes case studies and examplesexamples

• Focuses on planning and risk-Focuses on planning and risk-based treatment optionsbased treatment options

• Developed by steering Developed by steering committee of stakeholderscommittee of stakeholders

• Audience is state/local Audience is state/local regulators, service providers, regulators, service providers, local officialslocal officials

• Contains fact sheets on Contains fact sheets on management program elementsmanagement program elements

Organization of Organization of the Decentralized the Decentralized

Systems Systems Management Management

HandbookHandbook

Other US EPA ResourcesOther US EPA Resources•Public awareness and Public awareness and

education toolseducation tools•Homeowners’ GuideHomeowners’ Guide•Case studies of management Case studies of management

programsprograms•TWIST database for system TWIST database for system

inventoriesinventories•Web site containingWeb site containing

– Examples of fundingExamples of funding– Model codes and ordinancesModel codes and ordinances– Septage management examplesSeptage management examples

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ManualSystems Manual

• Supplements and updates Supplements and updates 1980 1980 Design ManualDesign Manual

• Promotes transition to Promotes transition to performance-based performance-based programsprograms

• Supports and complements Supports and complements the Mthe Management Guidelines anagement Guidelines and Management Handbook

• Addresses management Addresses management functions to support functions to support performance-based performance-based approachapproach

Partners and their Key Partners and their Key ActivitiesActivities

• Water Environment Federation (WEF)Water Environment Federation (WEF)– Address engineering community issuesAddress engineering community issues

• National Small Flows ClearinghouseNational Small Flows Clearinghouse– Provide technical assistance and support the state onsite Provide technical assistance and support the state onsite

regulatorsregulators• National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

– Develop credential for installersDevelop credential for installers• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)

– Implement performance code Implement performance code – Implement training instituteImplement training institute

• National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT)National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT)– Reach out to MembersReach out to Members

• Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)– Provide technical assistanceProvide technical assistance

• National Association of Wastewater Transporters (NAWT)National Association of Wastewater Transporters (NAWT)– Develop training for pumpersDevelop training for pumpers– Develop pump truck driver certificationDevelop pump truck driver certification

• Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized TreatmentConsortium of Institutes for Decentralized Treatment– Develop university curriculumDevelop university curriculum

www.epa.gov/owm/

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