Informational CD on Onsite and Clustered Wastewater Systems
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is pleased to offer this CD of
information about decentralized (onsite and clustered) wastewater treatment systems.
Feel free to reproduce all of these documents and use the graphics in presentations, web
sites, newspaper articles, or your own printed materials. The graphics are provided in
two formats, JPEG and TIFF. The JPEG files are smaller files and can be used in
PowerPoint presentations and on web sites. The TIFF files are larger files and can be
used in printed materials. Please cite “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” on the
graphics used.
This CD contains the following items:

Folder: Decentralized Technology
o (File: 1980 design manual/) 1980 EPA Onsite Design Manual
(intended for regulators and design engineers, this manual is a “classic”
and is still relevant for the design of conventional septic systems)
o (File: onsite wastewater treatment systems manual/) 2002 EPA Onsite
Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual (This is an updated design
manual, and complements the 1980 manual. It includes discussion of new
advanced level treatment technologies.)
o (File: ordering information.pdf) (This fact sheet explains how to order
the Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual)
o (File: onsite technology fact sheets/) Technology fact sheets (These are
short, concise summaries of various onsite and cluster system designs,
including cost, performance, and where to find more information.)

Folder: Decentralized Management
o (File: guidelines.pdf) Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of
Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems
(Tools and guidance to assist states and communities in developing
management programs based on local needs, resources and relative risks
to human health and water resources. Activities include planning, design,
site evaluation, inspections, monitoring, funding, and other functions.)
o (File: funding information/USEPA SRF.pdf) USEPA State Revolving
Fund fact sheet (Describes how the Clean Water State Revolving Funds
can be used to fund onsite and other decentralized wastewater treatment
systems. Includes examples from several states and where to find more
information.)
o (File: funding information/USDA-RUS fact sheet.pdf) US Department
of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service funding fact sheet (Summarizes
how USDA grant and loan programs can be tapped to fund onsite and
decentralized wastewater treatment projects, and where to find more
information.)
o (File: response to congress/) Response to Congress on Use of
Decentralized Wastewater Systems (EPA’s report to Congress on the
feasibility of decentralized wastewater treatment approaches for
addressing wastewater needs nationally. Includes an analysis of benefits,
potential savings and costs, and barriers to implementation.)

Folder: Public Education
o (File: homeowner guide_long.pdf, homeowner guide_short.pdf)
Homeowner’s Guide (Intended for the homeowner, this EPA brochure
gives relevant information on what a septic system is, how it works, what
are a homeowner’s responsibilities, do’s and don’ts for how to treat the
system, and how to get it serviced. A 20-page booklet version and a onepage tri-fold version are included).
o (File: beast in the backyard.pdf) Article from State Government News
Magazine of February 2001, entitled, “The Beast in the Backyard”
(Outlines concerns about poorly functioning septic systems, and describes
the need for management of the systems.)
o (File: SFQw01.pdf) Article from Small Flows Quarterly, Winter, 2001
issue, pages 14-19 and 45, entitled, “Onsite Treatment Options:
Matching the System to the Site” (Gives an overview of available onsite
wastewater technologies and under what site conditions they can best be
applied.)
o (File: graphics/) Onsite graphics
o (File: septic system facts.pdf) Septic system statistics

Folder: Presentations
o (File: management guidelines.ppt) EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater
Management Guidelines. (Summary of the new Management Guidelines
and management models.)
o (File: owts manual.ppt) Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
Manual. (Highlights the key concepts in the new manual.)

Folder: Other information
o (File: contact list.wpd) Contact list for more information
o (File: publications.wpd) List of helpful publications
o (File: small communities.pdf) Wastewater Treatment Program
Serving Small Communities. (Summary of programs offered by EPA,
Office of Wastewater Management for small communities.)
For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/owm/onsite or e-mail
decentralized@epa.gov.