As an owner and operator of many wastewater treatment (WWT) systems, the U.S. Army complies with and implements all applicable CWA provisions and regulations while overseeing the treatment and discharge of wastewater. The following activities are examples of actions the Army carries out as components of wastewater management:
Operating and maintaining system equipment to assure discharges meet the facility's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements and limitations;
- Managing a pretreatment program;
- Conducting sampling and analysis of wastewater;
- Managing biosolids from the treatment processes by land filling, land application, surface disposal, incineration, or composting; and
- Maintaining records and submitting discharge-monitoring reports.
Although the Army is in the process of privatizing many drinking water systems, some systems will remain under Army control and CWA requirements will still apply.
USAEC's role in promoting environmental compliance for the Army in the area of wastewater management includes:
- Reviewing all CWA rulemakings;
- Preparing Army impact analyses and comments on potential rulemakings;
- Preparing guidance documents, including pollution prevention options;
- Developing tools to assist installations in complying with CWA requirements, such as a protocol to evaluate the ability of Army WWT systems' infrastructure to ensure compliance with current and future environmental regulatory requirements;
- Working with the Office of the Director of Environmental Programs (ODEP) and the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to develop compliance strategies;
- Tracking the Army's progress on meeting DoD and Army environmental goals;
- Supporting installations when requested;
- Maintaining contact with the EPA to stay abreast of current and future initiatives;
- Representing the Army on DoD committees, along with ODEP; and
- Hosting discussion groups within the Army to exchange lessons learned and share information.