by Jbs060210d3 — June 4, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups. In many cities, overflows and backups occur because of blockages, broken pipes and excessive water flowing into the pipes.
Sanitary sewer overflows present environmental and health problems because they discharge untreated wastewater that contains bacteria, viruses, suspended solids, toxics, trash and other pollutants into waterways, notes EPA. These overflows may also contribute to beach and shellfish bed closures, contamination of drinking water supplies, and other environmental and health concerns.
EPA is considering two possible modifications to existing regulations: (1) establishing standard National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions for publicly owned treatment works permits that specifically address sanitary sewer collection systems and overflows; and (2) clarifying the regulatory framework for applying NPDES permit conditions to municipal satellite collection systems.
The agency is also considering whether to address long-standing questions about peak wet weather flows at municipal wastewater treatment plants to allow for a holistic, integrated approach to reducing sewer overflows while at the same time addressing peak flows at publicly owned treatment works.
EPA will hold public listening sessions and will accept written comments from the public on the potential rule until 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
