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Conveyance EPA's New Focus: Sanitary Sewer Overflows Sanitary sewer overflows are a problem that must be addressed nationally says the EPA. of on the heels of its successful problem,he suspects,and their cumula- attention do they deserve?', he says. campaign to forge a national tive effect—their threat to public health Overflowing sewers can cause policy on combined sewer and waterways,for example—is largely human health risks,threaten to destroy overflows(CSOs),the U.S. undocumented. "My guess is that virtu- aquatic life and habitat,and create odor Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) ally every system in the country has nuisances.The leaking sewage itself is turning its attention to the problem of overflow or [treatment] bypass issues. contains high levels of suspended solids, controlling sanitary sewer overflows The question we must ask is'How seri- pathogenic microorganisms,toxic pollu- (SSOs). During the development of the ous are the problems and how much tants,floatable material,nutrients, CSO policy,municipali- oxygen-demanding organ- ties raised concerns is compounds,and other about what was hap- pollutants. pening in separated The problem has sanitary systems,says been compounded by a Kevin Weiss,SSO 1 • • lack of attention. "Some matrix manager for municipalities have no set the EPA. program for replacing or "We realized we Although it could be a year or two before the new rehabilitating their sewers, didn't know how big r control would be published, Mike so their systems deterio- the SSO problem was, idelinesoSSO l f p rate as they get older,says but we knew there Cook, EPA, urges system managers to address SSO Weiss. Crumbling or inad- were a number of problems within their systems. "The basic principle of equate infrastructure can systems that experi- cause sewage to back up enced problems during sanitary health dictates that you deliver sewage to the into homes or leak extreme wet-weather municipal treatment plant. And only under exceptional through broken pipes.To conditions [when circumstances (extraordinary costs or engineering relieve this pressure,the storm water enters difficulties) should you wait. There are definitely waste will sometimes be the systems],"he adds. released untreated. Getting control of over- things managers should do now." Other overflows may flows from sanitary sys- be less obvious. "My tems,the EPA hopes, 1. Characterize guess is that many people will go a long way Find out what's going in your sewer system. Where are the don't realize what consti- toward achieving the problems? Use studies and modeling to find out the causes tutes an overflow.For goals of the Cleat, of overflows—infiltration,inflow,hydraulic problems. example,I would consider Water Act as well as bypasses at pumping sta- reducing health risks. tions,manholes that pop Technically,an SSO Look Evaluate ook at and cost out the alternatives for dealing with the during wet weather,and is any discharge from a issues in our stem. Implement basic infiltration and inflow broken sewer mains all to sanitary sewer system y �' p be SSOs;says Cook. at a point prior to treat- controls and undertake rehabilitation where necessary. Make With the problem so ment at a publicly sure replacement work is done on schedule and that cleaning widespread,making the owned treatment plant. chores are carried out to prevent clogs in the system. distinction between avoid- But[haps a pretty broad able and unavoidable definition,and it could 3. Implement overflows is the practical be refined,says Mike Establish and implement an ongoing program to address approach to controlling Cook,EPA head for the your system's priorities. the problem. "If we Office of Wastewater. assume that we'll always SSOs are a big have some kind of break- 2