USDA enters Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is strengthening its partnership with the U.S. EPA and a network of 25 organizations to support decentralized wastewater infrastructure in rural and underserved communities.
USDA and EPA officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, Dec. 6, outlining an industry-wide initiative to improve the overall performance and management of decentralized wastewater systems in rural areas.
“Decentralized wastewater systems are an integral component of our nation’s wastewater infrastructure, especially in rural areas where centralized treatment is often too expensive or unavailable,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Farah Ahmad. “USDA is committed to doing everything we can to ensure every family in America has access to modern, reliable wastewater infrastructure. That’s why we are strengthening our partnership with EPA to help historically underserved communities identify and pursue federal funding opportunities to address their wastewater needs. These efforts have enormous impact because when we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America.”
Comprised of a network of 25 other federal and non-federal industry stakeholders, the Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU was developed by EPA in 2005 in response to a Congressional Report (p. 1997) that highlighted the importance of decentralized wastewater systems.
Across the U.S., decentralized (septic or onsite) technology can provide communities and homeowners with a safe, affordable wastewater treatment option. USDA says that the MOU furthers the continued collaborations between both agencies to revitalize the nation’s wastewater infrastructure, improve water quality and protect the health of people living in rural areas.
“Safely managing wastewater is essential to protecting people’s health, their property, and the environment. Millions of Americans living in small, rural, and suburban communities rely on septic systems to play this important role every day,” said EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Benita Best-Wong. “This Memorandum brings together national organizations to engage with local partners to adopt best practices and help strengthen our communities.”
The Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU is updated every three years. This marks the first year USDA is joining the MOU and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to focus resources on supporting the many rural Americans who rely on decentralized wastewater systems. This MOU more broadly formalizes those efforts with an emphasis on the sharing of information, technology, and other resources through technical assistance, training, and more.
After joining the MOU, USDA Rural Development staff will:
- Identify and work with state and local finance partners to increase access to funding for rural communities.
- Connect rural communities to technical assistance resources provided through the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative.
- Foster connections between technical assistance providers to support the design, construction and financing of sustainable decentralized wastewater infrastructure.