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wastewater management

Wastewater management includes collecting, treating, monitoring, and disposing of wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources. An effective wastewater management program additionally includes operator training, inspections, preventative maintenance, and public education. The goal of wastewater management is to protect public health and the environment by minimizing the discharge of pollutants into water bodies and by recycling water for reuse. According to the Clean Water Act (CWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets and enforces federal rules for managing wastewater and stormwater. The goal of the CWA is to preserve and improve the chemical, physical, and biological condition of the country's waterways and watersheds by controlling (and ideally eliminating) the release of pollutants and harmful substances into U.S. waters. You can find more details on the Watershed and Stormwater Management webpage.

What has the Army done?

  

As an owner and operator of many wastewater treatment systems, the U.S. Army complies with and implements all applicable Clean Water Act provisions and regulations while overseeing the treatment and discharge of wastewater. The following activities are examples of actions the Army carries out for wastewater management:

- Operating, maintaining and upgrading Army wastewater collection and treatment system components to assure discharges meet the facility's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements
- Managing a pretreatment program
 -Conducting sampling and analysis of wastewater
- Managing biosolids from the treatment processes by land filling, land application, surface disposal, incineration, or composting
- Maintaining records and submitting discharge-monitoring reports
- Implementing and managing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater. See Watershed and Stormwater Management
 

Although the Army is in the process of privatizing many wasterwater systems, some systems will remain under Army control and CWA requirements will still apply. In many cases, once a system is privatized, the Army must still meet pretreatment program requirements as a customer.

USAEC's role in promoting environmental compliance for the Army in the area of wastewater management includes:

- Reviewing all CWA rulemakings
- Preparing Army impact analyses and comments on potential rulemakings
- Preparing guidance documents, including pollution prevention options
- Developing tools to assist installations in complying with CWA requirements
- Performing audits at installations to assist with compliance
- Working with the DCS, G-9 and the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to develop compliance strategies
- Tracking the Army's progress on meeting DoD and Army environmental goals
- Supporting installations when requested
- Maintaining contact with the EPA to stay abreast of current and future initiatives
- Representing the Army on DoD committees, along with DCS, G-9
- Facilitating the Water Community of Practice group within the Army to exchange lessons learned and share information; and
- To Support the Multi-Service Water Course as an Instructor-WENV 541 Water Quality Management Course.
 

Why is this important?

 
Wastewater management is a critical component of environmental protection and public health, as it helps to prevent water pollution, preserve water resources, and protect aquatic ecosystems. As an owner and operator of many wastewater treatment systems and industrial facilities, the U.S. Army complies with and implements all applicable Clean Water Act provisions and regulations while overseeing the treatment and discharge of wastewater and stormwater. The majority of wastewater regulations have some level of impact on the Army.