Septic Systems Guidance, Policy, and Regulations

EPA has developed several documents outlining its mission, priorities and regulatory authorities as well as guidance and technical information to help communities establish comprehensive septic (onsite) management programs.

• Guidance: Voluntary national guidelines and implementation tools to improve the overall management of septic wastewater systems.
• Policy and Regulations: Congressional reports, program strategy, and regulatory requirements for Class V wells.

Guidance

• Financing Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: Pathways to Success with the Clean Water State Revolving Fund  (pdf)
  Guide to help local and state onsite/decentralized wastewater programs and community leaders interested in learning ways to access Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) financing for decentralized wastewater projects. The guide provides the tools and knowledge to successfully navigate the financing process, and understand the basics of alternative CWSRF financing structures.
• Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
  Guide to help communities establish comprehensive management programs so their decentralized systems function properly. The guide focuses on public education and participation, planning, operation and maintenance, and financial assistance and funding.
  • Guidelines Factsheet
  • Presentation: Understanding the Decentralized Management Guidelines
• Handbook for Managing Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
  “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 to developing a community program for managing decentralized wastewater systems, including community examples, elements for sound management, and links to other resources.
  • Handbook Factsheet
• It's Your Choice: A Guidebook for Local Officials on Small Community Wastewater Management Options
  Booklet about wastewater management systems for communities serving populations fewer than 10,000 people presenting wastewater treatment options for community officials and decision makers.
• National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas
  Guidance to states, territories, authorized tribes and the public about reducing nonpoint source pollution from urban activities.
• Tribal Management of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
  Guide for tribal nations to design, maintain, and regulate onsite wastewater treatment systems.
• A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule
  Guide for interpreting and implementing the biosolids rule which establishes requirements for the final use or disposal of sewage sludge (biosolids) and domestic septage.
• Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters
  Guidance for states and territories on which management measures to include in state and territorial Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs.

Policy and Regulations

• Report to Congress on the Prevalence Throughout the U.S. of Low- and Moderate-Income Households Without Access to a Treatment Works and the Use by States of Assistance under Section 603(c)(12) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (pdf) This report responds to Section 4107(b) of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, and includes: a review of the national data sources available on decentralized wastewater treatment use; the prevalence of low- and moderate-income households without access to a treatment works; a summary of four state examples that have robust data on the use of decentralized wastewater treatment systems; and, a description of databases that record the use of state assistance and a graphical representation of the cumulative decentralized wastewater treatment system project assistance under Section 603(c)12 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
• Report to Congress on Alternative Decentralized and Centralized Wastewater Treatment Technology (pdf)
  Under America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA), Section 4102, codified in 33 USC 1314a: Wastewater technology clearinghouse, this report includes EPA’s historical and current data and technical assistance documents to show the types and amount of information provided to units of local government and nonprofit organizations regarding alternative wastewater treatment and recycling technologies; data on investments awarded to the states through EPA-funded loan, grant, and technical assistance programs to show which states and regions have made the greatest use of alternative wastewater treatment and recycling technologies; and an overview of programs initiated through EPA seed money, including grant programs, technical assistance tools, guidance documents, and other resources were compiled to show which actions taken by EPA's Administrator have assisted states in the deployment of alternative wastewater treatment and recycling technologies.
• Report to Congress on Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems
  Examines the feasibility of decentralized treatment as a lower-cost option for small communities with wastewater treatment needs.
• Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Program Strategy
  Presents EPA's vision, mission, and actions to improve the performance of decentralized wastewater treatment systems and protect public health and water resources.
• When Is a Septic System Regulated as a Class V Well?
  Fact sheet to help regulators determine which septic systems to regulate as Class V wells.
• Seepage Pits May Endanger Ground Water Quality
  Fact sheet on the prohibition against and hazards of using cesspools for the disposal of sewage.