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Handbook for Managing Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
A "how-to guide" for implementing EPA's Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems. The guide describes a step-by-step approach for the development of a community management program for decentralized wastewater systems. It includes specific community examples, gives an overview of the elements essential for sound management of these systems, and provides links to extensive resources.
Building Effective Programs
The process of finding solutions to wastewater problems must be driven by local needs consistent with community sentiment and state and federal requirements. This handbook offers guidance on ways to tailor a management approach to the specific needs of a community. It recommends the basic format for developing an effective onsite sewage management program based on the principles in EPA's Voluntary National Guidelines for Managing Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems. The handbook summarizes five major steps for developing or enhancing a decentralized wastewater management program from initial scoping and assessment, identifying stakeholders, conducting an inventory and community profile, selecting a management approach, and implementation and monitoring of programs. Fact sheets describing the 13 program elements of a decentralized wastewater management program are also included in the handbook.
Handbook for Managing Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems (PDF 66 pp, 2 MB) - (EPA 832-B-05-001) Published: 2005
Fact Sheet (EPA 832-B-05-001) Published: 2005
Coming soon–expanded online version of Handbook
EPA is developing an expanded version of this handbook and will include links to more specific information on topics of interest. A series of case studies is also being published to provide examples of successful management programs. For more information visit EPA's Web site www.epa.gov/owm/onsite.