This manual presents standard procedures for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System inspections of wastewater treatment plants, pretreatment facilities, and other sites.
You may need Adobe Reader to view files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (PDF)(918 pp, 17 MB, January 2017, 305-K-17-001)
- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual without Appendices (PDF)(526 pp, 7 MB)
- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Cover - Chapter 10) (PDF)(250 pp, 3 MB)
- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Chapters 11 - 19) (PDF)(296 pp, 4 MB)
- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Appendices A - AC) (PDF)(181 pp, 7 MB)
- NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Appendices AD - AR) (PDF)(224 pp, 4 MB)
- Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF)(24 pp, 771 K)
- Chapter 2 - Inspection Procedures (PDF)(34 pp, 530 K)
- Chapter 3 - Documentation/Recordkeeping and Reporting (PDF)(13 pp, 350 K)
- Chapter 4 - Facility Site Review - Wastewater Treatment Plants (PDF)(30 pp, 499 K)
- Chapter 5 - Sampling (PDF)(20 pp, 431 K)
- Chapter 6 - Flow Measurement (PDF)(17 pp, 427 K)
- Chapter 7 - Laboratory Procedures and Quality Assurance (PDF)(15 pp, 405 K)
- Chapter 8 - Toxicity (PDF)(26 pp, 473 K)
- Chapter 9 - Pretreatment (PDF)(25 pp, 504 K)
- Chapter 10 - Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) (PDF)(39 pp, 576 K)
- Chapter 11 - Stormwater (PDF)(48 pp, 669 K)
- Chapter 12 - Combined Sewer Overflows (PDF)(16 pp, 373 K)
- Chapter 13 - Sanitary Sewer Overflows (PDF)(13 pp, 373 K)
- Chapter 14 - Inspecting Green Infrastructure Controls (PDF)(32 pp, 1 MB)
- Chapter 15 - CAFO Program Inspections (PDF)(92 pp, 2 MB)
- Chapter 16 - Vessel General permit (VGP) (PDF)(43 pp, 802 K)
- Chapter 17 - Pollution Prevention (PDF)(24 pp, 629 K)
- Chapter 18 - Multimedia Concerns (PDF)(11 pp, 307 K)
- Chapter 19 - Appearing as a Witness (PDF)(9 pp, 252 K)
- Appendix A – EPA Order 3500.1, Training and Development for Individuals who lead Compliance Inspections/Field Investigations (PDF)(15 pp, 284 K)
- Appendix B – EPA Order 3510, EPA Federal Credentials for Inspections and Enforcement of Environmental Statutes (PDF)(2 pp, 169 K)
- Appendix C – EPA Order 1440.2, Health and Safety Requirements for Employees Engaged in Field Activities (PDF)(11 pp, 274 K)
- Appendix D – EPA’s Memorandum on Practices to Follow and Avoid when Requesting Information (PDF)(5 pp, 302 K)
- Appendix E – Sample CWA Section 308 Information Collection Request Letter (308 Letter) (PDF)(8 pp, 255 K)
- Appendix F – Final Fact Sheet: The Do’s and Don’ts of Using U.S. EPA Credentials (PDF)(8 pp, 290 K)
- Appendix G - EPA's Memorandum On Entry Procedures (PDF)(11 pp, 221 K)
- Digital Image Guidance for EPA Civil Inspections and Investigations (PDF)(33 pp, 702 K, June 2017, OECA-GUID-2017-001-R1)
- Appendix I – EPA's Memorandum On Deficiency Notice Guidance (PDF)(7 pp, 193 K)
- Appendix J – Inspection Conclusion Data Summary (ICDS) (PDF)(3 pp, 243 K)
- Appendix K – Draft Guidance for Releasing Civil Inspection Reports (PDF)(3 pp, 170 K)
- Appendix L – Sample Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Form (PDF)(3 pp, 231 K)
- Appendix M – Example Chain-of-Custody Form (PDF)(3 pp, 155 K)
- Appendix N – Updated Fact Sheet: Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials (PDF)(5 pp, 225 K)
- Appendix O – Supplemental Flow Measurement Information (PDF)(28 pp, 1 MB)
- Appendix P – Sludge Inspection Checklists (PDF)(15 pp, 393 K)
- Appendix Q – No Exposure Certification Form (PDF)(6 pp, 3 MB)
- Appendix R – NPDES Industrial Storm Water Investigation and Case Development (Industrial) (PDF)(12 pp, 330 K)
- Appendix S – Industrial Source Control BMP Questions (PDF)(6 pp, 200 K)
- Appendix T – Notice of Termination for Stormwater (PDF)(4 pp, 718 K)
- Appendix U – Typical "C" Coefficients (PDF)(3 pp, 215 K)
- Appendix V – Rain Zones of the United States (PDF)(3 pp, 405 K)
- Appendix W – NOAA Rainfall Worksheet (PDF)(3 pp, 166 K)
- Appendix X – NPDES Industrial Storm Water Investigation and Case Development (Construction) (PDF)(15 pp, 315 K)
- Appendix Y – Construction Source Control BMP Questions (PDF)(5 pp, 181 K)
- Appendix Z – Infiltration Control Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 233 K)
- Appendix AA – Permeable Pavements Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 255 K)
- Appendix AB – Rainwater Harvest Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 227 K)
- Appendix AC – Green Roof Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 224 K)
- Appendix AD – Animal Industry Overview (PDF)(27 pp, 2 MB)
- Appendix AE – Management/Soil Science (PDF)(8 pp, 896 K)
- Appendix AF – Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Biosecurity Procedures for Visits to Livestock and Poultry Facilities (PDF)(12 pp, 261 K)
- Appendix AG – Field and Personal Protective Equipment (PDF)(4 pp, 217 K)
- Appendix AH – Mapping Tool (Region 5) (PDF)(6 pp, 197 K)
- Appendix AI – Sample Permitted CAFO Inspection Checklist (PDF)(15 pp, 327 K)
- Appendix AJ – Regional Inspections Checklists (PDF)(21 pp, 423 K)
- Appendix AK – Growth Stages of Common Field Crops (PDF)(5 pp, 349 K)
- Appendix AL – Inspection Introduction Letter (PDF)(5 pp, 453 K)
- Appendix AM – Sampling Procedures and Equipment (PDF)(8 pp, 242 K)
- Appendix AN – Sample Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (PDF)(39 pp, 473 K)
- Appendix AO – Detailed Review of Nutrient Management Plan Implementation (PDF)(18 pp, 406 K)
- Appendix AP – Inspection Report Template (R7) (PDF)(12 pp, 299 K)
- Appendix AQ – Media-Specific Inspection Components (PDF)(28 pp, 383 K)
- Appendix AR – National Multimedia Screening Inspection Worksheet (PDF)(20 pp, 215 K)