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Clean Watersheds Needs Survey

EPA’s Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) is an assessment of capital investment needed nationwide for publicly-owned wastewater collection and treatment facilities to meet the water quality goals of the Clean Water Act. These capital investment needs are reported periodically to Congress. The information collected by the CWNS is used strictly to generate a Report to Congress quantifying the nation’s total wastewater infrastructure needs. The information collected is not intended for compliance or regulatory purposes.


About the CWNS

  • What is the CWNS?
  • CWNS capital investment needs
  • Acerca de la CWNS - en español
  • CWNS Small Community Form

2012 CWNS Report and Data

  • ​Report to Congress
  • Access to detailed data

CWNS Reports
and Data

  • 2008 CWNS
  • 2004 CWNS
  • 2000 CWNS

2012 Data and
Mapping Tools

  • Data dashboard
  • Mapping tool

2022 CWNS Updates

  • April 28, 2023: New extended date for CWNS data collection.
  • Contact your CWNS State Coordinator for questions about your state.
  • View recording of webinar: CWNS Stormwater Training for State Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Staff

2012 CWNS Quick Facts

Total Needs: $271 billion  
  • Secondary Wastewater Treatment: $52.4 billion
  • Advanced Wastewater Treatment: $49.6 billion
  • Conveyance System Repair: $51.2 billion
  • New Conveyance Systems: $44.5 billion
  • Combined Sewer Overflow Correction: $48.0 billion
  • Stormwater Management: $19.2 billion
  • Recycled Water Distribution: $6.1 billion

Number of POTWs: 14,691

Population Served by POTWs: 234.1 million

 
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 11, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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