Municipal Technologies | Wastewater Management

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. Indirect assistance includes support for the development of regulations; technical information; guidance, assessments, evaluation, and cost estimates for the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

Areas of expertise include:

conventional wastewater treatment and collection systems
combined sewer overflow treatment and control
storm water treatment and management
biological treatment processes
physical/chemical treatment processes
advanced treatment processes
conventional biosolids treatment and reuse procedures
biosolids technologies
disinfection and odor control
alternative collection systems
decentralized treatment systems, including on-site systems
land application of effluent and biosolids
constructed wetlands
wastewater reuse

EPA also encourages and provides support for the development of innovative and alternative technologies in any of the above areas. EPA's Municipal Technology Assessment program supports innovative and alternative technology development through a number of efforts and partners. Below is a list of some of the products and services available:

Facility design manuals
Overview to Watershed Assessments (PDF) (29 pp., 667K, about PDF)
Fact sheets on innovative and alternative technologies
Wet weather technology fact sheets
Technology verifications centers
Small community technical assistance
Research and development
Technology Transfer
Publications
Constructed Wetlands

An important aspect of implementing municipal technologies is operation and maintenance. EPA supports a number of activities related to O&M. These include:

The National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC)
Establishment of onsite training centers in several states, including Arizona, Missouri, North Carolina, RHode Island, Texas and Washington. A new center in Vermont is being developed.
Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program (formerly National Wastewater Management Excellence Awards Program) that recognizes communities, industrial facilities, plant personnel, and state and local officials that demonstrate commitment and innovation in achieving water quality goals. The categories recognized are operations and maintenance, biosolids management, pretreatment, storm water management, and combined sewer overflow controls.

Publications

Municipal Nutrient Removal Technologies Reference Document
This reference manual will help municipal utility owners and operators, state permit writers and regulators plan cost-effective nutrient removal projects for municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
- Volume 1 (268 pp, 4.1MB, about PDF) - Detailed technical and cost information about both biological and physiochemical treatment technologies. It includes detailed process descriptions and operating factors for processes that can remove nitrogen, phosphorus, or both from municipal wastewater. Also includes data on process performance and reliability.
- Volume 2 (181 pp, 9.96MB, about PDF) - Nine in-depth facility studies that examine the factors involved in successful process design and operation, and cost analysis.
Emerging Technologies for Wastewater Biosolids Management (PDF) (133 pp., 1.51MB, about PDF) - This guide will help municipal wastewater treatment system owners and operators find information on emerging biosolids management technologies. Featured technologies can be used to reduce the volume of residuals to be managed, produce stabilized biosolids that can be used to help improve soil fertility and tilth, or promote the recovery of energy from biosolids. Technical and cost data for more than sixty technologies are provided. An additional 25 early-stage technologies are also identified.
Emerging Technologies for Conveyance Systems: New Installations and Rehabilitation Methods (PDF) (98 pp., 752K, about PDF) - This technology guide is intended to help municipal and utility collection system owners and operators find information about innovative and emerging technologies for the installation of new conveyance systems and the repair of existing systems. The guide also includes data on cost-effective technologies for repair and rehabilitation of existing conveyance systems and preliminary information on emerging technologies for new installations and for the repair of existing conveyance systems.
Emerging Technologies Report on Wastewater Treatment (PDF) (190 pp., 18.2MB, about PDF) -This technology guide will help municipal wastewater treatment system owners and operators find information on emerging wastewater treatment and in plant wet weather management technologies to help them meet their current and future treatment requirements. Featured technologies can be used to reduce the capital and operation costs of wastewater treatment, provide more advanced levels nutrient removal, and better management of wet weather flows at the treatment plant. The document identifies cost effective innovative and embryonic technologies, or established technologies with innovative applications, as well as an extensive list of fully established technologies. Technical and cost data for more than sixty innovative technologies and more than twenty five embryonic technologies are provided.

Municipal Technologies - Related Links

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Areas of expertise include:

Publications

Municipal Technologies - Related Links

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