The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new resource tools aimed at assisting small, rural, and tribal communities that use lagoon systems for wastewater management. These tools are designed to help local decision-makers protect public health and the environment, address compliance issues, and improve asset-management planning.
Lagoon wastewater treatment systems are commonly used in communities with populations under 3,000. These smaller communities often lack the financial and technical resources needed to comply with the Clean Water Act. The EPA's new tools aim to bridge this gap.
“Safely managing wastewater is essential to healthy, thriving communities — no matter if you live in urban, suburban, or rural settings,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “EPA’s new tools enhance operations and management to ensure that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
The newly released resources include:
- The “First Stop Toolbox for Lagoons,” a user-friendly web tool that identifies technical, financial, and regulatory support resources. This tool assists lagoon operators and technical assistance providers in assessing operational and compliance challenges.
- The “Small Lagoon Communities Economic Streamlining Tool” and the “Individual Lagoon Tool.” These help states, authorized Tribes, and communities determine whether a water quality standards (WQS) variance is appropriate when facing compliance challenges related to ammonia. Both tools come with an implementation document titled “Applying the EPA’s Economic Analysis Tools to a WQS Variance for Ammonia for Small Lagoon Communities.”
These tools were developed as part of the EPA’s 2022-2026 Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Action Plan in response to needs identified by state co-regulators and lagoon communities.
For more than three decades, the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund has provided low-cost assistance for water infrastructure projects like lagoon systems. Additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has further bolstered this support. Additionally, the EPA’s Water Technical Assistance services aid communities in identifying water challenges, building capacity, and developing materials necessary to access funding.
Learn more about lagoons through videos featuring Bruno Pigott and Kathryn Kazior on the EPA's website.
