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Septic System Programs
Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information

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Resort documents: | By Name |     | By Date |

Decentralized Approaches to Wastewater Treatment
This presentation on EPA's programs is designed to encourage and support septic system agement.
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 01/01/2003
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Program Strategy
This strategy presents EPA's vision, mission, and actions to improve the performance of decentralized wastewater treatment systems, thereby providing better protection of public health and water resources (EPA 832-R-05-002).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 01/12/2005
Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems
This document provides technical information on onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems. It does not contain standards for those systems, nor does it contain pertinent rules or regulations. The intended audience for this manual includes those involved in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and regulation of wastewater systems (EPA 625-1-80-012).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 10/01/1980
Handbook for Managing Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
A "how-to guide" for implementing EPA's Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems. The guide describes a step-by-step approach for the development of a community management program for decentralized wastewater systems. It includes specific community examples, gives an overview of the elements essential for sound management of these systems, and provides links to extensive resources. (EPA 832-B-05-001)
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 12/01/2005
It's Your Choice: A Guidebook for Local Officials on Small Community Wastewater Management Options
Booklet that describes wastewater management systems for communities serving populations fewer than 10,000 people. Presents options to help address small communities' existing and future wastewater treatment needs and will help educate community officials and other decision makers (EPA 430-9-87-006).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 10/01/1987
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
EPA and 14 organizations entered into a MOU to help focus efforts on better planning, design, and long-term operation, maintenance and management of septic systems on a national level. This MOU renews the original 2005 document and adds an additional six organizations who will help communities address key problem areas and improve their onsite wastewater management programs. (signed Nov. 19, 2008)
  • Press release
  • MOU Partners: List of 14 organizations that have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA and lists additional partners
  • Webinar (PDF, 78pp, 5MB) - On November 3, 2008 EPA hosted a web seminar to educate new organizational partners and their members about the MOU and provide an orientation on individual/cluster system technologies and management options.
  • 2008 Progress Report (PDF, 2pp, 450KB)
  • Information on the EPA MOU Partnership and the MOU Partner Organizations - In March, 2008, EPA hosted a webinar for the new and existing partner organizations to provide background information on both the partner groups and the partnership itself. Slides used during the webinar can be accessed via the links below.
    Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
    Date Published: 11/19/2008
Memorandum of Understanding for EPA’s Decentraized Wastewater Program – A Progress Report
This report discusses the activities that have been supported by the MOU Partnership since the partnership’s creation in 2005.
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 03/01/2007
National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas
Provides guidance to states, territories, authorized tribes and the public regarding management measures that can be used to reduce nonpoint source pollution from urban activities (EPA-841-B-05-004).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 05/01/2005
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual
This manual was developed to provide supplemental and new information for wastewater treatment professionals in the public and private sectors. It is not intended to replace the previous manual but to further explore and discuss recent developments in treatment technologies, system design and long-term system management. This manual has a more focused approach to onsite wastewater treatment and onsite system management (EPA-625-R-00-008).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 02/01/2002
Response to Congress on Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
This report to Congress examines the feasibility of decentralized treatment as a lower-cost option for the many communities with wastewater treatment needs. EPA's report recognizes lack of management as a major barrier to implementing decentralized systems and concludes that "adequately managed decentralized wastewater systems are a cost-effective and long-term option for meeting public health and water quality goals, particularly in less densely populated areas" (EPA 832-R-97-001b).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 04/01/1997
The Wastewater Information Systems Tool (TWIST)
An off the-shelf, user-friendly management tool that will allow state and local health departments to effectively inventory and manage small wastewater treatment systems in their jurisdictions. It's designed to track information related to homes and facilities served, permits, site evaluations, types of systems, inspections, and complaints. (EPA 832-E-06-001).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 06/01/2006
Tribal Management of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
The document is intended to help tribal nations determine what level of management or tribal regulation will work best to ensure that onsite wastewater treatment systems do not affect public health and protect the environment. (EPA 909-F-04-007)
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 07/01/2004
Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
Guide that helps communities establish comprehensive management programs to ensure that all septic systems function properly. Proper management of decentralized systems involves implementating of a comprehensive group of elements and activities, such as public education and participation, planning, operation and maintenance, and financial assistance and funding (EPA 832-B-03-001).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 03/01/2003
When Is a Septic System Regulated as a Class V Well?
This is a fact sheet intended to help regulators determine which septic systems should be regulated as Class V wells (EPA 816-F-03-002).
Document Type: Guidance, Manuals, Policies and Technical Information
Date Published: 06/01/2003

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Last updated on December 31, 2006 4:42 PM
URL:http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/publications.cfm