| Revision as of 09:24, 15 April 2012 editTim! (talk | contribs)962,359 edits added Category:Regulation using HotCat← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:27, 18 April 2012 edit undoMoreau1 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,077 edits Copyedit, added links, photo, refs. "Sewage" treatment is the preferred US term in this context, to distinguish it from stormwater sewers, which have different reqts.Next edit → | ||
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| ==Regulation== | ==Regulation== | ||
| ===United States=== | ===United States=== | ||
| ] in Los Angeles, California is one of the largest municipal plants in the United States.]] | |||
| Sewer systems in the United States are subject to the ] and are regulated by multiple agencies on the local, state, and federal levels. Federal agencies such as the ] ('''EPA'''), state environment or health agencies, and local agencies such as regional pollution control boards{{Fact|date=November 2007}}, all have an interest in the quality of water discharged from sanitary sewer treatment plants. At a minimum, sewer treatment plants must protect the health and welfare of the local population by ensuring that raw or primary treated wastewater does not contaminate the local potable water supply. At a maximum, certain agencies (such as those located in the Lake Tahoe ]) must treat all inflows to tertiary standards, and then pump all treated water out of the drainage basin so that no effluent ever drains to a certain body of water. | |||
| ] systems in the United States are subject to the ] (CWA) and are regulated by federal and ] environmental agencies. In most states, local sewage plants receive discharge permits from state agencies; in the remaining states and ], permits are issued by the ] (EPA).<ref>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC (2005). ''National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).''</ref> The treatment plants, known as ] (POTW) in CWA parlance, must protect the health and welfare of the local population by ensuring that wastewater does not contaminate the local potable water supply, nor violate additional ] that protect the ecological health of the water body. For water bodies with stringent standards, such as ], POTWs must treat their discharges to ] levels, and then pump all treated water out of the drainage basin so that no effluent ever drains to a certain body of water.<ref>EPA (2010). ''National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).''</ref> | |||
| The basic national standard for U.S. treatment plants is the '''Secondary Treatment Regulation'''.<ref> ''Code of Federal Regulations,'' 40 CFR Part 133</ref> Most plants in the U.S. must meet this standard. |
The basic national standard for U.S. municipal treatment plants is the '''Secondary Treatment Regulation'''.<ref>EPA (1989). ''Code of Federal Regulations,'' 40 CFR Part 133.</ref> Most plants in the U.S. must meet this standard. The permit authority (state agency or EPA) can compel a POTW to meet a higher standard, if there are applicable water quality standards for the receiving water body. Such higher standards may require the POTW to construct improvements to its plant(s). If not in compliance with its permit and regulations, POTWs may be subject to heavy fines. Regulation is therefore often the driving force behind increasing sewage treatment costs in the United States, and is directly linked to the high cost of constructing or expanding a sewer treatment facility. | ||
| Many large cities in the U.S. operate ]s, which collect sewage and ] runoff in a single pipe system leading to the treatment plant. Combined sewers can cause serious water pollution problems due to combined sewer overflows, which are caused by large variations in flow between dry and wet weather. These overflows can lead to violation of the secondary treatment regulation and/or water quality standards. Discharge permits for these POTWs typically have additional requirements that require facility improvements to reduce or eliminate the overflows.<ref>EPA (2012). </ref> | |||
| ===United Kingdom=== | ===United Kingdom=== | ||
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| Revenues are usually generated through two charges to customers: ''connection fees'' and ''use charges''. Connection fees are charged once to new customers as they connect to the sanitary sewer collection system, and are usually designed to recover ] made by the enterprise to serve its customers. Use charges are periodic charges for ongoing use of the system, and are designed to recover ] expenses. Both connection fees and use charges are typically proportionate to the amount and strength of wastewater expected to be generated by each customer. Therefore, a single family residence would pay much smaller fees and charges than a food processing plant. | Revenues are usually generated through two charges to customers: ''connection fees'' and ''use charges''. Connection fees are charged once to new customers as they connect to the sanitary sewer collection system, and are usually designed to recover ] made by the enterprise to serve its customers. Use charges are periodic charges for ongoing use of the system, and are designed to recover ] expenses. Both connection fees and use charges are typically proportionate to the amount and strength of wastewater expected to be generated by each customer. Therefore, a single family residence would pay much smaller fees and charges than a food processing plant. | ||
| Some POTWs are eligible for low-interest loans to finance system improvements, from the ]. This program is administered by EPA and state agencies, using a combination of federal and state funds.<ref>EPA (2012). </ref> | |||
| ===United Kingdom=== | ===United Kingdom=== | ||
| In ] sewerage and sewage disposal is undertaken by relatively few large private companies, including several multi-national companies. In ] and ] a "not for profit" company is the responsible body, however in Wales almost all the operational work is sub-]ed by others. Charges to domestic users are based either on the metered volume of incoming water or on the notional value of the property (] basis). | In ] sewerage and sewage disposal is undertaken by relatively few large private companies, including several multi-national companies. In ] and ] a "not for profit" company is the responsible body, however in Wales almost all the operational work is sub-]ed by others. Charges to domestic users are based either on the metered volume of incoming water or on the notional value of the property (] basis). | ||
| ⚫ | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | *] | ||
| ⚫ | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| {{waste}} | {{waste}} | ||
Revision as of 04:27, 18 April 2012
Sewage disposal regulation and administration describes the governance of sewage disposal and treatment.
Regulation
United States
Sewage treatment systems in the United States are subject to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and are regulated by federal and state environmental agencies. In most states, local sewage plants receive discharge permits from state agencies; in the remaining states and territories, permits are issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The treatment plants, known as publicly owned treatment works (POTW) in CWA parlance, must protect the health and welfare of the local population by ensuring that wastewater does not contaminate the local potable water supply, nor violate additional water quality standards that protect the ecological health of the water body. For water bodies with stringent standards, such as Lake Tahoe, POTWs must treat their discharges to tertiary treatment levels, and then pump all treated water out of the drainage basin so that no effluent ever drains to a certain body of water.
The basic national standard for U.S. municipal treatment plants is the Secondary Treatment Regulation. Most plants in the U.S. must meet this standard. The permit authority (state agency or EPA) can compel a POTW to meet a higher standard, if there are applicable water quality standards for the receiving water body. Such higher standards may require the POTW to construct improvements to its plant(s). If not in compliance with its permit and regulations, POTWs may be subject to heavy fines. Regulation is therefore often the driving force behind increasing sewage treatment costs in the United States, and is directly linked to the high cost of constructing or expanding a sewer treatment facility.
Many large cities in the U.S. operate combined sewers, which collect sewage and stormwater runoff in a single pipe system leading to the treatment plant. Combined sewers can cause serious water pollution problems due to combined sewer overflows, which are caused by large variations in flow between dry and wet weather. These overflows can lead to violation of the secondary treatment regulation and/or water quality standards. Discharge permits for these POTWs typically have additional requirements that require facility improvements to reduce or eliminate the overflows.
United Kingdom
In England and Wales sewage disposal is regulated by the Environment Agency with regard to environmental standards and their achievement and by Ofwat in relation to charges and service standards. In Scotland the Scottish Environment Protection Agency fulfils the equivalent role that the Environment Agency plays in England and Wales
Administration
United States
Sewer systems are usually administered on the local level, usually city-wide, and usually by the city itself. These systems, which may operate independently or as a subdivision of a city or other municipal agency, are typically operated as Enterprises, meaning that they produce enough revenues to fund their own activities.
Revenues are usually generated through two charges to customers: connection fees and use charges. Connection fees are charged once to new customers as they connect to the sanitary sewer collection system, and are usually designed to recover capital investments made by the enterprise to serve its customers. Use charges are periodic charges for ongoing use of the system, and are designed to recover operations and maintenance expenses. Both connection fees and use charges are typically proportionate to the amount and strength of wastewater expected to be generated by each customer. Therefore, a single family residence would pay much smaller fees and charges than a food processing plant.
Some POTWs are eligible for low-interest loans to finance system improvements, from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This program is administered by EPA and state agencies, using a combination of federal and state funds.
United Kingdom
In England sewerage and sewage disposal is undertaken by relatively few large private companies, including several multi-national companies. In Wales and Scotland a "not for profit" company is the responsible body, however in Wales almost all the operational work is sub-contracted by others. Charges to domestic users are based either on the metered volume of incoming water or on the notional value of the property (rateable basis).
See also
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC (2005). "State and Tribal Program Authorization Status." National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
- EPA (2010). "Water Quality and Technology-Based Permitting." National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
- EPA (1989). "Secondary Treatment Regulation." Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 133.
- EPA (2012). "Combined Sewer Overflows."
- EPA (2012). "Clean Water State Revolving Fund."
