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Water Pollution: Nonindustrial Wastewater Pollution Can Be Better Managed

RCED-92-40 Published: Dec 05, 1991. Publicly Released: Jan 08, 1992.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined: (1) the range, sources, and seriousness of pollutants found in nonindustrial wastewater; (2) local and state governments' strategies and programs to better manage and control those pollutants; and (3) federal options that might encourage or require better management and control of those pollutants.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should require major wastewater treatment plants to identify the most serious nonindustrial pollutants entering their facilities and the sources of those pollutants, and report on their efforts to control them. EPA should use this information to determine what, if any, further analyses are needed by those or other plants. Further, EPA should make this information available to treatment plant officials so they can benefit from others' experiences and potentially reduce the start-up time and costs of needed programs to better control those pollutants.
Closed – Implemented
EPA activities include: encouraging local pretreatment programs to address nonindustrial sources of toxics in guidance; emphasizing the inclusion of water quality based controls in discharge permits; and cooperating with Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies members to evaluate the seriousness of nonindustrial sources of toxic pollution and appropriate control strategies.
Environmental Protection Agency On the basis of the information reported to EPA, the Administrator, EPA, should determine whether further regulatory actions are needed to reduce nonindustrial wastewater pollution. Such action could include: (1) requiring treatment plants to implement source control programs (e.g., regulating additional industrial and commercial discharges and establishing programs to collect household hazardous wastes); and (2) exercising EPA authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act to restrict or ban substances, or require manufacturers to place warning labels on their products to alert consumers of the products' risks.
Closed – Implemented
EPA responded that, as a result of its efforts, should it determine additional nonindustrial source controls are necessary, it will develop appropriate and cost-effective measures. Depending on the extent of identified problems, these measures may include revising discharge permits, regulatory initiatives, or product bans.

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Topics

Environmental lawEnvironmental monitoringstate relationsSewage treatmentToxic substancesWastewater managementWastewater treatmentWater pollutionWater pollution controlWater qualityPollutants