EPA to Protect Waters From Sewage

The Environmental Protection Agency took action to protect public health and the nation's beaches and waterways from disease-causing organisms and contamination that occurs from 40,000 raw sewage overflows each year.

EPA specifically is taking action to reduce the sewer overflows that can lead to beach closures by proposing significant improvements in the operation and maintenance of the nation's sewer systems. The proposed rule would require improved management of capacity and maintenance programs to reduce sewer overflows by strengthening current Clean Water Act permit conditions for more than 19,000 sewage treatment plants around the country.

The proposal would require 4,800 satellite sewage collection systems to get permits for the first time. Cities would be required to develop and implement plans to improve plant performance, encourage new investments in infrastructure, as well as perform a number of technical upgrades. The EPA would clarify that communities have limited protection from enforcement in very rare circumstances.