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Water/Wastewater Initiatives
EMS Initiatives
Supported by EPA
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EPA, as well as a number of state environmental agencies, are actively promoting the use of EMS in a variety of settings. Within EPA, the Office of Water (OW) is an acknowledged leader in this field. This Web page highlights areas where OW is actively promoting more widespread adoption of EMSs.
Local Government EMS Initiatives
In addition to their value in traditional industrial settings, EMSs are powerful tools for local governments, especially municipalities, to more effectively manage their operations and reduce environmental impacts.
First EMS Initiative for Government Entities
In 1997, OW, working with the Office of Compliance, launched a program to train and assist nine local government entities that made commitment to implement EMSs using the ISO 14001 standard as a starting point. Participants included publicly owned treatment works, public works departments, transit agencies, and a state prison. These early pioneers realized a number of important benefits as a result of participating in this ground breaking effort, including reduced costs, better understanding of legal requirements, and improved communications between departments. Final Report: The US EPA Environmental Management System Pilot Program for Local Government Entities (1997-1999) (PDF) (136 pp, 2 M)
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Second EMS Initiative for Government Entities
Based on the success of the first project, OW, in partnership with the Offices of Compliance, Air and Radiation, and Solid Waste, launched an even more ambitious program involving 14 public agencies. The project concluded in March 2002. The following links exit the EPA web site.
- Proceedings from the final meeting of the 2nd EMS Initiative for Government Entities (3/27/02) (PDF) (22 pp, 272 K)
These proceedings details many of the benefits of EMS.
- The Second EMS Initiative for Government Entities April 2000 - March 2002: Final Report (PDF) (113 pp, 1.9 M)
- An Environmental Management Systems Troubleshooters Guide for Local Governments
This guidance document is based on the experiences of the local government agencies that participated in the EMS Initiative.
Third EMS Initiative for Local Government Entities
As part of the Agency's continuing effort to promote EMS adoption with local governments, 12 local agencies from around the country have been selected to participate in a 3rd Local Government EMS Program, funded by EPA, through a cooperative agreement with the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF). This program is also part of a larger initiative funded by EPA called the Public Entity EMS Resource Center (PEER). For further information, please view the Third EMS Initiative for Local Government Entities Interview Scoring Matrix (PDF) (3 pp, 85 K) or contact Jim Horne (horne.james@epa.gov) at (202) 564-0571.
- National EMS PEER Center
Public Entity EMS Resource Initiative (PEER). PEER consists of a national clearinghouse of EMS information dedicated to public entities and seven EMS Local Resource Centers.
- Integrated Management Systems for Water and Wastewater Utilities
Guide to help water and wastewater utilities better understand how to continually improve environmental performance into their existing management programs and overall facility operations.
- National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) EMS Program
The NBP, with dedicated funding from Congress, has developed an EMS blueprint that includes various guidance documents and practices that could be incorporated into an EMS implemented by municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
- Other Water/Wastewater Related EMS Initiatives
The Office of Water is engaged in many other activities to promote, test and evaluate EMSs.