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Surface Water Technical Assistance
The Technical Support Team's mission is to maintain and improve water quality in Region 4 by providing technical assistance and environmental review in the area of water pollution control to government and the public. The Team provides leadership and technical support in the following areas:
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Green Infrastructure Initiative
- Needs Survey
- Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Program
- Technology Transfer and Technical Assistance
- WaterSense
- Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative
Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S)
Contact: Maryann Gerber (gerber.maryann@epa.gov)
The program provides information, education, and technical assistance in erosion and sediment control issues. Most erosion and sediment control problems are handled by state and local agencies. The program also provides information about the appropriate state or local erosion and sediment control agency for specific geographic areas. Information about EPA's role in erosion and sediment control issues, BMP information, and other links about sediment and erosion control is also available from the E&S contact person.
Green Infrastructure Initiative
Contact: Maryann Gerber (gerber.maryann@epa.gov)
Green infrastructure is an approach to wet weather management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies. The Green Infrastructure Initiative provides information, education, and technical assistance in the benefits, principles and practices of green infrastructure. For more information visit our national website: Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure.
Needs Survey
Contact: Cheryl Espy (espy.cheryl@epa.gov)
The Needs Survey is a biannual report to Congress to assess community needs for wastewater treatment facilities, new collection systems, sewer system rehabilitation, correction of combined sewer overflows, and management of storm water and nonpoint source pollution. States document needs and enter information into a computer database. More information about this is available from the EPA Headquarters site for the Clean Watershed Needs Survey.
Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Program
Contact: Bob Freeman (freeman.bob@epa.gov)
The program encourages the continued utilization of onsite/decentralized systems of wastewater treatment as a cost-effective option to protect public health and water resources. EPA assistance includes encouraging effective management programs, identifying appropriate systems, and providing guidance on design, construction, operation and maintenance, and costs. Technology transfer activities include presentations at seminars and conferences and distribution of resources on institutional management and technical issues. More information about this program is available from the EPA Headquarters site for Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems.
Technology Transfer and Wastewater Technical Assistance
Contact: Bob Freeman (freeman.bob@epa.gov)
The Technology Transfer program attempts to remove informational obstacles for the utilization of innovative and alternative technologies by providing technical assistance to communities and the public. Many times environmentally friendly and cost-effective technologies are not used by the public because of the lack of information.
Technical assistance on wastewater related issues, including wastewater treatment and collection systems, innovative technology, and others, is provided to other Water Management Division Teams, the States, municipalities and consulting engineers. The technical assistance includes design and planning of wastewater facilities, economic and environmental evaluation of alternative treatment options, performance evaluation, and compliance assistance. Technology transfer activities include presentations at seminars and workshops and the distribution of technical manuals.
WaterSense
Contact: Arthur Buff (buff.arthur@epa.gov)
WaterSense is a program that works with independent certification boards to label products that reduce water usage by at least 20% while performing as well or better than products currently on the market. WaterSense seeks to provide credibile information on water efficient products and practices, raise awareness about the importance of water efficiency, ensure water-efficient product performance, help consumers differentiate products and programs that use less water, promote innovation in product development, and support state and local water efficiency efforts. EPA is partnering with manufacturers, retailers and distributors, local and state governments, utilities, water districts, trade associations, nonprofits, certified irrigation professionals, and professional certifying organizations to assist in these efforts. More information is available from the EPA Headquarters site for WaterSense.
Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative
Contact: Natalie Ellington (ellington.natalie@epa.gov)
The Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative guides our efforts in changing how the nation views, values, manages, and invests in its water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. This initiative promotes sustainable practices that will help to reduce the potential gap between funding needs and spending at the local and national level through collaborative efforts with industry and the provision of information, education, and technical assistance. We believe that collaboration with a coalition of leaders with EPA playing a prominent role, can build a roadmap for the future promotion of sustainable infrastructure through a Four Pillars approach:
- Better Management of Water and Wastewater Utilities,
- Rates that Reflect the Full Cost Pricing of Services,
- Efficient Water Use, and
- Watershed Approaches to Protection.