Created by EPA in 1985, the Pathogen Equivalency Committee (PEC) is a federally sponsored technical group that provides technical assistance and recommendations on process equivalencies for pathogen reduction in sewage sludge to government and industry. This website provides guidance from the PEC for demonstrating the effectiveness of innovative and/or alternative sewage sludge disinfection processes for the purposes of receiving a recommendation of equivalency to a process that significantly or further reduces pathogens.

Information for potential PEC applicants: Before applying to the PEC for equivalency, please read the information below and get acquainted with the process.

• Pathogen Equivalency Committee documents
  • Check with your permitting authority FIRST, the PEC does not review technologies that currently meet Part 503 alternatives
  • The Equivalency Recommendation Process flow chart

In reviewing equivalency applications, the PEC ensures that new or alternative processes proposed for sewage sludge treatment are robust and effectively reduce pathogens. The PEC reviews and makes recommendations to relevant federal and/or state permitting authorities on the merits of these applications and determines if they are equivalent to the processes currently listed in the 40 CFR Part 503, Subpart D, regulation.

• Basic information: Pathogen Equivalency Committee
  • Introduction
  • What is the Pathogen Equivalency Committee
  • What are Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRPs) and Processes to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs)?
  • I have developed or have an idea for a new treatment process and would like to get equivalency. How do I get started?
  • How can a process receive a national vs. site-specific equivalency recommendation?
  • What are fecal coliform, Salmonella spp., enteric viruses, and helminth ova and why were they chosen to demonstrate equivalency?

Biosolids Guidance

Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge

A quality assurance project plan (QAPP) should be developed before beginning testing so that the desired quality in sample collection, laboratory analysis, data validation and reporting, as well as documentation and record keeping is achieved and maintained.

• Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)

You may read about examples of companies and products that have received equivalency related to processes to significantly reduce pathogens and processes to further reduce pathogens.

• Examples of Equivalent Processes: PFRP and PSRP

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