Small Community Wastewater
Alternatives
Section VI
Problem Characterization and
Moving to Action
Source Water Protection Plan
• Wastewater threats
• Subset of Contaminant ID/ Inventory
• Prioritize vulnerability of source:
– Proximity
– Severity of threat
• Likelihood of contamination (transport)
• Potency of contaminant
– Other
• Specific management strategy
Overview
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Elements of a Management Plan
Getting there
Funding
Long-term planning
Stakeholder tips
Elements of a Management Plan
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Introduction
Assessment of Existing Conditions
Evaluation of Management
Alternatives
Selected Management Approach
Outline of Project Implementation Plan
Elements of a Management Plan (cont.)
1. Introduction
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Goals and Objectives
Framework/ Context
Participants and Roles
Relevant Background
Acknowledgements
Elements of a Management Plan (cont.)
2. Assessment of Existing Conditions
a. Methodology
i. Conducting inventory
ii. Assessing risk
b. Summary of findings
c. Supporting data
Elements of a Management Plan (cont.)
3. Evaluation of Management Alternatives
a. Summary of alternatives
b. Criteria for selection
4. Selected Management Approach
a. How selected alternative meets criteria
b. Cost Estimate
c. Funding options
Elements of a Management Plan (cont.)
5. Outline of Project Implementation Plan
a. Roles and responsibilities
b. Project planning steps
c. Timeline
Getting There
1. Set Goals and Objectives
2. Organize Steering Committee/ Stakeholder
Group
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
4. Identify Management Alternatives
5. Select a Management Approach
6. Outline Implementation Plan
7. Maintain communication
Getting There
1. Set Goals and Objectives (sample)
a. Goals:
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Formalize strategy to protect drinking water source (s) from
wastewater contamination, particularly onsite septic systems
Generate community-wide support for protecting water supplies by
managing wastewater through education and relationship building
b. Objectives
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Develop a source water protection strategy for wastewater
Establish a framework for implementing the strategy
Encourage community participation throughout the planning
process
Getting There
2. Organize Steering Committee/ Stakeholder
Group
Be inclusive – be groupers not splitters
Identify backgrounds and expertise
Select leader and secretary
Preliminary determination of roles – roles may shift as
project progresses
e. Set a timeline
f. Identify and assign tasks:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Getting There
Steering Committee Tasks:
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Conduct preliminary information gathering
Confirm the delineation of the source water protection
area
Complete an inventory of individual, commercial,
industrial and community wastewater systems
Establish priority ranking system based on severity of
threat
Identify and make management recommendations
Help identify funding options
Identify potential sites (if appropriate) for community or
clustered wastewater treatment
Make the routine decisions that guide the project.
Possible Team Members
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County sanitarians, water and wastewater
operators, elected officials, city/county health
officials, county extension agents, city/county
planners
Code enforcement officers/ building inspectors
Resource conservation and development agencies
Watershed planning groups
Service organizations, senior citizen groups, youth
groups and school personnel
General community
Bankers/ realtors
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
a.
b.
c.
d.
Preliminary information gathering
Delineate protection area
Conduct contaminant inventory
Assess public health risk
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
a. Preliminary information gathering
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Identify sources of upfront information: maps,
assessment records, existing wastewater surveys or
contaminant inventories by others, 911 records,
others
Identify regulatory powers and management authority
Identify and involve technical assistance resources
Identify obvious obstacles
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
b. Delineate protection area
• Zones of influence
• Groundwater source
• Surface water source
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
c. Conduct contaminant inventory
1. Include individual, commercial, schools, hospitals,
group homes, elder care facilities, residential
developments, offices, industrial, public or private
non-profit corporations
2. Map system locations – water system staff, code
enforcement officers, building and zoning inspectors,
health department staff, highway department
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
c. Conduct contaminant inventory
3. Collect additional information
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System type and condition
Known problems and action taken
Unusual strength waste (type and volume generated)
Non-residential flow volumes
4. Data collection methodology
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Visual survey
Wastewater surveys
Site inspections
Owner interviews
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
c. Conduct contaminant inventory
5. Record data
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Use a proven database if possible
Easy-to-share format
Consider sharing cost of database development
Provide for an update mechanism
Getting There
3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions
d. Assess public health risk
– Determine ranking criteria based on severity of
threat
• proximity
• degree of failure
• type of contaminants
• effectiveness of existing strategies
– Prioritize (rank) systems
– Chart results simply and clearly
Getting There
4. Identify Management Alternatives
a. Identify level of protection required
b. Identify and rank potential protection
strategies
c. Differentiate between short-term and longterm strategies
d. Research and review favored options
Getting There
4. Identify Management Alternatives
a. Identify level of protection required
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Different zones may have different requirements
b. Identify and rank potential protection
strategies:
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Existing systems
New systems
Likelihood of community or cluster system needs
Identify training needs
Getting There
4.
Identify Management Alternatives
b.
Identify and rank potential protection strategies:
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Existing systems
• Inspection and monitoring (identify and prevent malfunctions)
• Repair and replacement
New systems
• Enhanced site and soil evaluation requirements
• Enhanced design professional requirements
• Enhanced system performance requirements
• Increased setback or slope requirements
Likelihood of community or cluster system needs
Identify training needs
Getting There
4. Identify Management Alternatives
c. Differentiate between short-term and long-term
strategies
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Short-term: public/homeowner education, voluntary activities
to work towards a management district, coordinate health
dept. inspections, cost-share programs to replace septic
systems, other things that can be done with little money
Long-term: management district, clusters, sewer system
d. Research and review favored options
Getting There
5. Select a Management Approach
a. Review alternatives with Steering Committee,
community, regulators, funders, and technical
assistance providers
b. Consider funding availability
c. Recommend alternative (s)
Getting There
6. Outline Implementation Plan
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Outline planning steps
Develop a realistic timeline
Public meetings: involve the public early
Solicit design professional
Obtain preliminary cost estimate
Secure funding
Getting There
7. Maintain Communication
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Steering Committee
Water System Management
Municipality
Property owners
Community
Regulators
Design Professional
Funding sources
Stakeholder Meeting Organizing Tips
• Have food
• Meet at local venues where others might
overhear and get drawn in
• Face-to-face, one-on-one interactions are
extremely effective
• Piggy back onto other events
• Use humor
Courtesy of Pace U. Land Use Training
Identifying Stakeholders
• Ask key members of the community who think they will
be interested in the issues
• Identify:
– organized groups and individuals who might be interested in
the potential acts that have been identified
– any groups that may be hard to reach
– groups and individuals that may not typically be thought of
as being part of the public
– groups and individuals that may not typically be thought of
as being part of the public
Funding
Individual System assistance
• USDA Rural Development
– Section 504 Home Repair Loan and Grant
Program
• Grants up to $7,500 for very low income
homeowners 62 and older
• 1% interest loans up to $20,000 for other lowincome families and individuals
Funding
Individual System assistance
• USDA Rural Development
– Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program
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Elderly: Income < 80% Area Median Income
Other: Income < 50% Area Median Income
Terms up to 33 years
Can be used to repair or prepare home site
Funding
Municipal system assistance
• USDA Rural Development
Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Funding
Program
– 38 year loan terms
– Poverty, Intermediate and Market rates
– Limited grant available
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State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF)
U.S. Department of HUD
Long-Term Planning
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Community Profile
Needs Assessment
Identifying Interests
Confirming Community Support
Survey Instruments
Project Planning Tips
Community Profile/ Needs Assessment
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Evaluate natural conditions and environmentally
sensitive areas
Water supply
Land use
Demographics
Wastewater flows and loading
Existing treatment facilities/systems
Future growth and economic development
Identifying / prioritizing areas of concern*
Identifying Needs and Interests
• Confirming community support for a
project:
– Need
– Interest
– Willingness to pay
– Ability to pay
Needs Surveys
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Interest surveys
Drinking water surveys
Wastewater surveys
Income surveys
Wastewater Planning Tips
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Community Steering Committee
Begin planning now
Exercise administrative will
Take advantage of technical assistance
Think critically. Be discriminating in hiring a
consultant
Evaluate / document funding eligibility
Involve regulators early
Make O&M a priority
Keep community/customers informed