NAWT Renews Commitment to EPA Memorandum of Understanding Partnership

NAWT is participating in a MOU project for the EPA.

The National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc. has renewed the association’s commitment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, partnership for another three years. The first three years generated many successes, marked by better cooperation, collaboration, consultation, coordination and communication among NAWT and the other seven organizations: National Environmental Health Association, National Association of Towns and Townships, National Environmental Services Center, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, Water Environment Federation, and Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment. Clearly, NAWT’s presence improved the perception of the industry within the partnership.

NAWT is participating in a MOU project for the EPA, helping to develop a public awareness effort that promotes improved onsite system performance to protect public health and water quality. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, onsite systems serve nearly 25 percent of U.S. households and almost 33 percent of new developments, processing 4 billion gpd. Data provided to the EPA from individual states indicates that more than half the systems are 30 years old or older, and up to 25 percent have failed.

Most homeowners, real estate sales associates and developers believe that sanitary sewers enhance property values and are more acceptable than onsite systems, even if the former is more expensive. Many regulators and wastewater engineers have little knowledge about onsite systems and are uncomfortable with them. While the EPA Decentralized Wastewater Systems Program continues to focus on these groups, it also is determining how much the public knows about onsite systems. Research is under way to identify where resources are needed and how to reach homeowners most effectively.

EPA strategies

The EPA is developing a public awareness campaign and fact sheets on the basics of onsite systems. The agency retained a marketing firm to provide guidance on the best way to spread the word. To promote wastewater management, the EPA will publish articles in external (non-industry) magazines, while encouraging MOU partners to do likewise at state association levels.

For example, NAWT helps Realtors regularly. However, we want to work with the National Association of Realtors because our premiere course is inspecting onsite systems for buyer-seller agreements. Once we engage at the national level, the parent association will inform state organizations.

The National Association of Home Builders is another example. On the local level, NAWT helps developers explain to buyers why homes with onsite systems are more desirable than comparable homes on sanitary sewers. Our members have developed informational brochures, presentations, and communications that developers can give to potential buyers. Some members do the first pumpout for free. NAWT wants to educate and encourage the National Association of Home Builders so its members feel comfortable with and consider installing onsite systems.

Through promoting changes in funding, the EPA intends to alter the mindset of lawmakers and regulators toward onsite systems. They frequently approve plans that specify hooking communities to sewers and building another municipal plant. Both parties ignore the law requiring them to explore treatment options, onsite systems being one option.

NAWT has helped homeowners stop sewer hookups. The homeowner-taxpayer is driving this change, especially after hearing that it costs $50,000 to $60,000 to tap into the sewer.

The EPA funded the development of NOWRA’s Model Code, a guide to assist states and local municipalities in addressing existing conflicts with the permitting and use of onsite systems. The agency’s next objective is for counties to adopt the Model Code instead of writing their own regulations.

NAWT fits easily into the EPA’s goal of increasing education, certification, and training opportunities within the industry. We are committed to expanding these education programs, enabling more service providers to attend them.

For updates on EPA MOU partners, visit www.us-epamoupartners.org.



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