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Frequently Asked Questions

What have been the water quality benefits provided by POTWs?

Environmental Management Systems/ISO 14001  - ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, located in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO promotes the development and implementation of voluntary international standards, both for particular products and for environmental management issues. ISO 14000 refers to a series of voluntary standards in the environmental field under development by ISO. 

Biosolids  -  The Office of Wastewater Management's (OWM's) National Biosolids Management Program promotes the beneficial recycling of biosolids and regulates biosolids that are used or disposed of through land application, surface disposal, or incineration. Practically speaking, anyone who works with biosolids is probably regulated under this program. Biosolids are the treated residuals from wastewater treatment that can be used beneficially. Wastewater residuals (formerly sewage sludge) would not be known as biosolids unless they have been treated so that they can be beneficially used. 

Financing  -  OWM is involved in many activities that promote improved wastewater treatment. The Office provides direction and assistance to national, State, and local programs for the abatement and prevention of municipal water pollution. The assistance that OWM offers are in the form of grant programs.  Information about these programs can be found on the Financing web page. 

Indian Set Aside (PDF) (13pp, 602K, about PDF) - The Clean Water Act authorized EPA to create a grants program to help pay for the planning, design and construction of wastewater treatment systems to serve Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Tribes and Native Alaskan Villages face significant human health, water quality and environmental problems because of the lack of adequate wastewater treatment. 

Facilities Database (Needs Survey)  -  The Office of Wastewater Management maintains a Wastewater Facilities Database which is a product of a survey of needs for wastewater facilities (the Clean Water Needs Survey (CWNS)). The CWNS, a joint effort of the States and EPA, is conducted to meet the requirements of  the Clean Water Act, and is submitted to Congress on a regular basis. 

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)  -  The Clean Water Act requires that all discharges from any point source (pipes or man made ditches) into waters of the United States must obtain an NPDES permit. This does not necessarily mean that a household must obtain a permit to connect to a city sewer, but the facilities where discharges go directly into surface waters must obtain a permit. The reason for obtaining a permit is to protect public health and the nation's waters. 

Pretreatment  - The National Pretreatment Program is a cooperative effort of federal, state, and local regulatory environmental agencies established to protect water quality. The program is designed to reduce the level of pollutants discharged by industry and other non-domestic wastewater sources into municipal sewer systems, and thereby, reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment through wastewater. 

Water Efficiency  - Efficient water use can have major environmental, public health, and economic benefits by helping to improve water quality, maintain aquatic ecosystems, and protect drinking water resources, As we face increasing risks to ecosystems and their biological integrity, the inextricable link between water quality and water quantity becomes more important. Water efficiency is one way of  addressing water quality and quantity goals. The efficient use of water can also prevent pollution by reducing wastewater flows, recycling industrial process water, reclaiming wastewater, and using less energy. 

Wet Weather   -  Urban wet weather discharges, including storm water discharges, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), are a leading cause of water quality impairment in our nation's waters. EPA established the Urban Wet Weather Flows Federal Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on how to address cross-cutting issues associated with these discharges. The Committee's recommendations will help EPA in developing wet weather discharge programs that are flexible and cost-effective, while working to further the water quality objectives of the Clean Water Act. 

Small Communities  - Protecting public health and improving water quality are the major goals of the Clean Water Act. Small communities and Indian Tribes often experience difficulty in achieving these goals. Many communities and tribes could avoid costly construction projects through improving their management skills, more adequate financing, selection of appropriate technology, and better wastewater treatment facility operation and maintenance. 

Additional Links

Where can I go to find additional environmental information in my state or community? 

Listed below are some links that may take you to information in your state or community.  We are not responsible for the maintenance or usefulness of this information, however, it may help you find information not contained on the Office of Wastewater Management web site. 

State Environmental and Legislative Sites:

Local Information:

 

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