Decentralized Systems: A National Presence

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US Environmental Protection Agency

Decentralized Systems: Decentralized Systems: A National PresenceA National Presence

Maureen TookeMaureen TookeEPA Office of Wastewater Management (OWM)EPA Office of Wastewater Management (OWM)

RCAP Annual National Training Conference RCAP Annual National Training Conference December 2, 2010December 2, 2010

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~22% of homes use ~22% of homes use onsite treatment onsite treatment

~25% of new ~25% of new constructionconstruction

50% in suburban areas50% in suburban areas 10-20% fail each year10-20% fail each year 22ndnd highest threat to gw highest threat to gw

Onsite systems are a significant part Onsite systems are a significant part of the nation’s infrastructure . . .of the nation’s infrastructure . . .

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……But Decentralized Systems But Decentralized Systems Can and Do Work!Can and Do Work!

“Adequately managed decentralized wastewater systems are a cost-effective and long-term option for meeting public health and water quality goals.”

- EPA 1997 Report to Congress

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Our PerspectiveOur Perspective

Making a difference!Making a difference! In the beginning . . . a struggleIn the beginning . . . a struggle Report to Congress was a pivotal moment in Report to Congress was a pivotal moment in

the history of decentralized systems . . . the history of decentralized systems . . . recognition by EPA of benefits/impactsrecognition by EPA of benefits/impacts

EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program initiated to focus on improving management initiated to focus on improving management practicespractices

Future focus on addressing Future focus on addressing underserved/hardship communitiesunderserved/hardship communities

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What are Underserved Communities?What are Underserved Communities?

Includes:Includes:• 1.7 million people1.7 million people without access to safe wastewater and without access to safe wastewater and

water services with 600,000 people in small, rural water services with 600,000 people in small, rural communities that are remote and impoverishedcommunities that are remote and impoverished11

• Underserved populations -- tribes, territories, colonias, Underserved populations -- tribes, territories, colonias, rural areas, low income, elderly, ethnic groups, etc.rural areas, low income, elderly, ethnic groups, etc.

1 RCAP analysis of 2000 U.S. Census

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New Administration GoalsNew Administration Goals

Commit stimulus fundingCommit stimulus funding• Fully fund the green reserveFully fund the green reserve

Address underserved community needsAddress underserved community needs Ensure environmental justice communities Ensure environmental justice communities

receive attentionreceive attention

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EPA’s Decentralized EPA’s Decentralized ProgramProgram

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EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater Program StrategyProgram Strategy

(January 2005)(January 2005)

Vision: Vision: Decentralized systems Decentralized systems are appropriately managed & are appropriately managed & perform effectively to protect perform effectively to protect human health & the human health & the environment; recognized as a environment; recognized as a key component of our nation’s key component of our nation’s wastewater infrastructure.wastewater infrastructure.

Mission: Mission: EPA will provide EPA will provide national direction and support national direction and support to improve performance by to improve performance by promoting perpetual promoting perpetual management and upgraded management and upgraded professional standards of professional standards of practice.practice.

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2002 - “Onsite Wastewater 2002 - “Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual” Treatment Systems Manual” published published

2003 – “A Homeowners’ 2003 – “A Homeowners’ Guide to Septic Systems” Guide to Septic Systems” publishedpublished

2003 - release of the 2003 - release of the “Voluntary National “Voluntary National Management Guidelines” Management Guidelines” (14 states adopted to date)(14 states adopted to date)

Major Actions/ToolsMajor Actions/Tools

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Major Actions/Tools (cont.)Major Actions/Tools (cont.)

2005 - EPA released its 2005 - EPA released its “Decentralized System Program “Decentralized System Program Strategy”Strategy”

2005 - EPA and eight partners 2005 - EPA and eight partners signed the “Memorandum of signed the “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Understanding (MOU) on Decentralized Wastewater Decentralized Wastewater Systems”Systems”• Renewed in 2008 with 6 additional Renewed in 2008 with 6 additional

partnerspartners

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Major Actions/Tools (cont.)Major Actions/Tools (cont.)

2005 - “Management Handbook” 2005 - “Management Handbook” published published

2006 - “The Wastewater 2006 - “The Wastewater Information Systems Tool” Information Systems Tool” (TWIST) released(TWIST) released

14 states have adopted Guidelines14 states have adopted Guidelines Documents released in SpanishDocuments released in Spanish 2009 – “e-Handbook” released2009 – “e-Handbook” released

• 13 ‘hot-linked’ resource guides 13 ‘hot-linked’ resource guides includedincluded

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Major Actions/Tools (cont’d)Major Actions/Tools (cont’d)

Clean Watersheds Needs SurveyClean Watersheds Needs Survey

Report to Congress on needs for wastewater Report to Congress on needs for wastewater treatmenttreatment

Congress is considering revised allotment formula Congress is considering revised allotment formula for SRF loan programfor SRF loan program

2008 Survey will include needs for onsite and 2008 Survey will include needs for onsite and clustered systemsclustered systems

State and local onsite staff will provide dataState and local onsite staff will provide data Website: epa.gov/owm/cwnsWebsite: epa.gov/owm/cwns

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MOU PartnershipMOU Partnership

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Decentralized Wastewater Partnership Decentralized Wastewater Partnership through a through a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Initiated in January 2005 to: Initiated in January 2005 to:

• Facilitate effective collaboration and Facilitate effective collaboration and open communication between the open communication between the organizationsorganizations

• Implement a voluntary program to Implement a voluntary program to address decentralized wastewater issuesaddress decentralized wastewater issues

• Elevate the level of professionalismElevate the level of professionalism Renewed in November 2008 to:Renewed in November 2008 to:

• Incorporate state focus and research Incorporate state focus and research componentcomponent

• Improve collaboration among regulatory Improve collaboration among regulatory programs within statesprograms within states

• Conduct outreach and marketing to Conduct outreach and marketing to homeowners and communitieshomeowners and communities

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PartnersPartners Water Environment Federation Water Environment Federation

(WEF)(WEF) National Small Flows National Small Flows

ClearinghouseClearinghouse National Environmental Health National Environmental Health

Association (NEHA)Association (NEHA) National Onsite Wastewater National Onsite Wastewater

Recycling Association (NOWRA)Recycling Association (NOWRA) National Association of Towns and National Association of Towns and

Townships (NATaT)Townships (NATaT) Rural Community Assistance Rural Community Assistance

Program (RCAP)Program (RCAP) National Association of National Association of

Wastewater Transporters (NAWT) Wastewater Transporters (NAWT) Consortium of Institutes for Consortium of Institutes for

Decentralized TreatmentDecentralized Treatment

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PartnersPartners Association of State and Interstate Association of State and Interstate

Water Pollution Control AdministratorsWater Pollution Control Administrators Ground Water Protection CouncilGround Water Protection Council State Onsite Regulators AllianceState Onsite Regulators Alliance Association of State Drinking Water Association of State Drinking Water

AdministratorsAdministrators Association of State and Territorial Association of State and Territorial

Health OfficialsHealth Officials Water Environment Research Water Environment Research

FoundationFoundation

**New Partners joining the MOU winter **New Partners joining the MOU winter 20112011

SORA

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Partnership Partnership Accomplishments & ToolsAccomplishments & Tools

Joint training and credentialing program for installers Joint training and credentialing program for installers began in 2006began in 2006

NAWT inspector, operation and maintenance, and NAWT inspector, operation and maintenance, and vacuum truck trainingvacuum truck training

NOWRA Model code development and related workshopsNOWRA Model code development and related workshops

WEF Small Communities Committee promotes WEF Small Communities Committee promotes decentralized alternatives to engineering communitydecentralized alternatives to engineering community

Cross-attendance at conferences and trainingsCross-attendance at conferences and trainings

WERF Decentralized Research WERF Decentralized Research

SORA/NEHA/NOWRA/EPA Regional Coordinator’s ‘Super SORA/NEHA/NOWRA/EPA Regional Coordinator’s ‘Super Conference’ – June 2010Conference’ – June 2010

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Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (CIOWTS)Treatment Systems (CIOWTS)

• EPA supports the NEHA credential for EPA supports the NEHA credential for onsite system installersonsite system installers

• Two types of certificationsTwo types of certifications Basic systemBasic system Advanced systemAdvanced system

• National credential available for state National credential available for state or local programsor local programs

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Septic Wiki -Septic Wiki - https://ssoprod.epa.gov/sso/jsp/septicWikiLogin.jsphttps://ssoprod.epa.gov/sso/jsp/septicWikiLogin.jsp

A collaborative website A collaborative website • Upload/share documents yourselfUpload/share documents yourself

A one stop shop for allA one stop shop for all Contents:Contents:

• Tools & TrainingTools & Training• NewsNews• Best practices, demo projects, research, factsheets, Best practices, demo projects, research, factsheets,

calendarcalendar

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CWSRF FundingCWSRF Funding

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Clean Water State Revolving Fund Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Facts(CWSRF) Facts

The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987 authorized The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987 authorized the CWSRF to fund:the CWSRF to fund:• point source (§212), point source (§212), • Non-point source (§319), and Non-point source (§319), and • estuary (§320) projects. estuary (§320) projects.

Decentralized system projects that are Decentralized system projects that are solutions to nonpoint source problems may be solutions to nonpoint source problems may be eligible as a §319 or §320 project.eligible as a §319 or §320 project.

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American Recovery and Reinvestment American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) CWSRF Green ReserveAct (ARRA) CWSRF Green Reserve

Project types eligible for Green Reserve Project types eligible for Green Reserve funding:funding:• Projects with water efficiency componentsProjects with water efficiency components• Projects with energy efficiency componentsProjects with energy efficiency components• Green (stormwater) infrastructure projectsGreen (stormwater) infrastructure projects• Environmentally innovative projectsEnvironmentally innovative projects

Decentralized projects specifically identified hereDecentralized projects specifically identified here

Language in 2010 Appropriations; expect Language in 2010 Appropriations; expect it to continueit to continue

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Chesapeake Bay Executive OrderChesapeake Bay Executive Order

Issued by the President May 12, 2009Issued by the President May 12, 2009 Nitrogen loading to CB from onsites Nitrogen loading to CB from onsites

is 4-5% of the totalis 4-5% of the total Decentralized program to develop Decentralized program to develop

model program guidance for the CB model program guidance for the CB states by June 30, 2013states by June 30, 2013

Concepts to be applicable nationallyConcepts to be applicable nationally

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Reaching Out to Reaching Out to HomeownersHomeowners

EPA’s next key initiative:EPA’s next key initiative:

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ChallengesChallenges

Out-of-sight, out-of-mind view by owners Burden on regulators -- new technologies,

inspections, monitoring, record-keeping Need to overcome “stigma,” prejudices,

poor track record of past No national standards Onsite program gets “no recognition”

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Awareness CampaignAwareness Campaign PurposePurpose

• Address impact of malfunctions by educating Address impact of malfunctions by educating homeowners on proper maintenance and daily homeowners on proper maintenance and daily practicespractices

• Develop marketing/public awareness effort Develop marketing/public awareness effort (with participation from the MOU Partners) to (with participation from the MOU Partners) to include possible initiatives such as:include possible initiatives such as:

Messages/products for homeowners, local decision Messages/products for homeowners, local decision makers, local boards of healthmakers, local boards of health

Product distribution through service providersProduct distribution through service providers WebcastsWebcasts Online resources for homeowners (eg: point-of-sale Online resources for homeowners (eg: point-of-sale

info)info)

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Program Logo and MascotProgram Logo and Mascot

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Program MessagingProgram Messaging

• Simple Simple • Easy to rememberEasy to remember• Establish annual messaging cueEstablish annual messaging cue

Septic awareness monthSeptic awareness month

• Action orientedAction oriented ““Think at the Sink”; “Don’t Strain your Think at the Sink”; “Don’t Strain your

Drain”; “Don’t be a Septic Skeptic”Drain”; “Don’t be a Septic Skeptic”

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www.epa.gov/owm/

onsite