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Partners in ProgressPartners in Progress

US EPA’s Memorandum of Understanding US EPA’s Memorandum of Understanding with Organizations Involved in Decentralized with Organizations Involved in Decentralized

Wastewater ManagementWastewater ManagementApril 29, 2008April 29, 2008

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Drivers for Addressing Drivers for Addressing Decentralized SystemsDecentralized Systems

Unmanaged systems are significantUnmanaged systems are significant contributors of nonpoint source pollution and contributors of nonpoint source pollution and impacts to source watersimpacts to source waters

Inconsistent approaches in state/local Inconsistent approaches in state/local management programsmanagement programs• Risk-based designs, technology approvals, Risk-based designs, technology approvals,

O&M requirements, etc.O&M requirements, etc. A significant part of the nation’s A significant part of the nation’s

infrastructureinfrastructure

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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

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

(January 2005)(January 2005)

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

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

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Progress Made to DateProgress Made to Date Provided guidance on effective management Provided guidance on effective management

programs, i.e., programs, i.e., Voluntary Management Voluntary Management GuidelinesGuidelines

Issued Issued Management HandbookManagement Handbook to to supplement Guidelines supplement Guidelines

Updated Updated technical design manualtechnical design manual to to address performance-based approachaddress performance-based approach

Supported Supported national credentialsnational credentials for for inspectors, installers and pump truck driversinspectors, installers and pump truck drivers

Supported Supported model regulatory codemodel regulatory code Supported Supported research and demonstration research and demonstration

projectsprojects Issued Issued Homeowner’s GuideHomeowner’s Guide Recognized statesRecognized states which have voluntarily which have voluntarily

adopted the Guidelinesadopted the Guidelines• AZ, NJ, NC, FL, IA, RI, AL, OK, GA, DE, MD, VA, WIAZ, NJ, NC, FL, IA, RI, AL, OK, GA, DE, MD, VA, WI

Initiated Initiated MOUMOU

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Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Cooperation in Decentralized Wastewater Cooperation in Decentralized Wastewater

Management ProgramsManagement Programs Implemented:Implemented: January 12, 2005 January 12, 2005 Duration:Duration: Three years Three years Purpose:Purpose:

• To formalize the ongoing cooperative relationship To formalize the ongoing cooperative relationship between EPA and its partners to effectively address between EPA and its partners to effectively address decentralized wastewater issues. decentralized wastewater issues.

• To facilitate effective collaboration and To facilitate effective collaboration and communication between the partnerscommunication between the partners

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Objectives of the MOUObjectives of the MOU Strengthen external partnerships Improve decentralized system

performance through improved practitioner competency, management practices, and technology transfer.

Improve oversight through enhanced state, tribal and local program implementation

Improve local decision-making through enhanced public awareness

Support the principles outlined in EPA’s Voluntary Management Guidelines

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Current MOU PartnersCurrent MOU Partners

Water Environment Federation (WEF)Water Environment Federation (WEF) National Small Flows ClearinghouseNational Small Flows Clearinghouse 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 Program Rural Community Assistance Program

(RCAP)(RCAP) National Association of Wastewater National Association of Wastewater

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

Decentralized TreatmentDecentralized Treatment

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Sectors CoveredSectors Covered

Academia – professors, researchers, Academia – professors, researchers, extensionextension

Service providers – installers, site evaluators, Service providers – installers, site evaluators, inspectors, operation & maintenance inspectors, operation & maintenance providers, pumpersproviders, pumpers

Engineers and design professionalsEngineers and design professionals Product manufacturersProduct manufacturers Local regulators Local regulators Elected officials – town managersElected officials – town managers

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What the MOU Can OfferWhat the MOU Can Offer Effective mechanisms for information exchange and Effective mechanisms for information exchange and

technical assistancetechnical assistance• Access to members of partner organizationsAccess to members of partner organizations

Improved industry professionalismImproved industry professionalism• Training for inspectors, installers, maintenance technicians, Training for inspectors, installers, maintenance technicians,

pump truck operatorspump truck operators• Credentialing programsCredentialing programs

Consistency in development of toolsConsistency in development of tools Model regulatory code to assist in upgrading and modernizing Model regulatory code to assist in upgrading and modernizing

regulationsregulations Training programs and materials Training programs and materials Glossary with standard terminology, operations and Glossary with standard terminology, operations and

maintenance training manualmaintenance training manual Opportunity to conduct outreach efforts to promote Opportunity to conduct outreach efforts to promote

improved system operation, maintenance, and improved system operation, maintenance, and performanceperformance

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MOU AccomplishmentsMOU Accomplishments

Joint training and credentialing program for Joint training and credentialing program for installers began in 2006installers began in 2006• Training, testing, and credentialing by NAWT, NEHA, Training, testing, and credentialing by NAWT, NEHA,

NOWRA, CIDWT designed to improve consistency and NOWRA, CIDWT designed to improve consistency and professionalism among installersprofessionalism among installers

• Credential being required by some countiesCredential being required by some counties NAWT inspector, operation and maintenance, NAWT inspector, operation and maintenance,

and vacuum truck trainingand vacuum truck training• 65 workshops with 3000 individuals trained in 2005 – 65 workshops with 3000 individuals trained in 2005 –

2007 2007

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MOU Accomplishments (cont.)MOU Accomplishments (cont.)

• Model code workshops – led by NOWRA & Model code workshops – led by NOWRA & supported by all partnerssupported by all partners

• NESC’s State Onsite Regulators conference NESC’s State Onsite Regulators conference attracts staff from nearly all state onsite attracts staff from nearly all state onsite wastewater management programswastewater management programs

• Participation in each others’ conferencesParticipation in each others’ conferences

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Goals for the MOU RenewalGoals for the MOU Renewal Continue ongoing collaborative Continue ongoing collaborative

effortsefforts Incorporate state focus and Incorporate state focus and

research component into the research component into the MOUMOU

Clarify state regulatory and Clarify state regulatory and management practicesmanagement practices

Provide input on research Provide input on research needs and improve access to needs and improve access to research results research results

Conduct public awareness Conduct public awareness efforts to promote improved efforts to promote improved system operation, system operation, maintenance, and performancemaintenance, and performance

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New PartnersNew Partners

Association of State and Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Interstate Water Pollution Control AdministratorsControl Administrators

Ground Water Protection Ground Water Protection CouncilCouncil

State Onsite RegulatorsState Onsite Regulators Water Environment Research Water Environment Research

FoundationFoundation

SORA

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www.epa.gov/owm/

onsite

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Questions?Questions?