Waste Water Management

  • What is it?

    Pursuant to the Clean Water Act (CWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes and executes federal regulations for wastewater and stormwater management. These standards restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters and watersheds by regulating the discharge of pollutants and toxics into U.S. waters. More information is available at the Watershed and Stormwater Management page.

  • 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 CWA 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
    • o Support the Multi-Service Water Course as an Instructor-WENV 541 Water Quality Management Course.

  • Why is this important?

    As an owner and operator of many wastewater treatment systems and a permit holder for many stormwater permits, the U.S. Army complies with and implements all applicable CWA provisions and regulations while overseeing the treatment and discharge of wastewater. The majority of wastewater regulations have some level of impact on the Army.

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