Working for Clean Water
An Information Program for Advisory Groups
Facility Planning
in the
Construction Grants
Programs
Instructor Guide
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This progrem Was prepared by
The Pennsylvania State University
Institute of State & Regional Affairs
Middletown, PA 17057
Dr. Charles A. Cole
Project Director
Dr. E. Drannon Buskirk, Jr.
Project Co—Director
Prof. Lorna Chr. Stoltzfus
Editor
This guide was prepared by
E. Drannon Buskirk, Jr.,
Charles A. Cole
Advisory Teom for the Project
David Elkinton, Sr.are of West
Virginia
Steve Prishman, private citizen
Michele Frome, private citizen
John Hammond. private citizen
Joan Jurancich, State of California
Richard Hetherington, EPA
Region 10
Rosemary Henderson, EPA Region 6
George Hoessel, EPA Region 3
George Neiss, EPA Region 5
Ray Pfortner, EPA Region 2
Paul Pinault, EPA Region 1
Earlene Wilson, EPA Region 7
Dan Burrows, EPA Headquarters
Ben Gryctko, EPA Headquarters
Robert Hardaker, EPA Headquarters
Charles Kauffman, EPA Headquarters
Steve Maler, EPA Headquarters
EPA Project Officer
Barry U. Jordan
Office of Water Programs
Operations
Aowledganenta
Typists
Jan Russ, Tess Startoni,
Ann Hirsch, Janie Fuller
Student Assistants
Fran Costanzi, Kathy DeBatt,
Michael Lapano, Mike Moulds
Terry Switzer
Graphics support was provided by
the Office of Public Awareness,
Environmental Protection Agency.
This information program was
financed with federal funds from
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency under Cooperative Agreement
No. CT900980 01. The information
program has been reviewed by the
Environmental Protection Agency
and approved for publication.
Approval does not signify that the
contents necessarily reflect the
views and policies of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, nor does
mention of trade names or commercial
products constitute endorsement of
recoumnendation for use.
This project is dedicated to the
memory of Susan A. Cole.
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Facility Planning
Wastewater facility planning is the most important step of the
federal construction grants process. Step 1, facility planning,
includes six major decision points. Each should have citizen
involvement:
• Assessment of the current situation
• Assessment of the future situation
• tdentification of alternatives
• Cost—effectiveness analysis
• Environmental assessment
• Selection of recommended alternative.
In Step 2 the facilities are designed. Construction occurs during
Step 3.
Required Materials
DSet of slides with cas sette tape for the audiovisual presentation,
“Overview of Facility Planning”
DSlide projector, cassette tape player, and screen
DChalkboard, flip chart with easel, or transparencies with overhead
projector for guided discussion
OCopy of handbook “Overview of Facility Planning” for each
participant
OCopies of the situation exercise sheets for each participant.
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Important Notes
1. This instructor guide features several options:
a. Show the slide—tape program without substantive discuss
b. Discuss the opportunities for citizen involvement
in facility planning
c. Engage in situation exercises about facility planning.
Any combination of these options may be used, but almost all of
them are necessary for the total picture. If all of the
instructional options are chosen, a one—hour presentation will
be insufficient.
2. The facility planning process has many aspects that possibly
can be best explained by persons most familiar with them. Area
or state water quality personnel may serve as a back—up.
3. Encourage the participants to talk to their neighbors
about community water and wastewater problems. An assessment
of the current situation is the first phase in facility
planning.
4. Prepare copies of the situation exercise sheets for all
participants. The instructor may use the situation exercise
sheets provided in the Appendix of this guide, or may develop
others that are nore pertinent to the Local situation.
5. Situation exercises are types of simulations in which
participants can relate tO real—life situations, or can practice
newly acquired skills or knowledge. The exercises have two
fundamental elements: a structure and role playing. The
structure includes the rules for the simulation, the task to be
performed, and special conditions that must be observed.
Participants are usually asked to represent a group or an
individual, perhaps themselves. If the instructor develops
situation exercises, several steps are essential:
• Determine purpose of the exercise
• Provide the group with% task that is clear, explicit,
and has a definite endpoint
• Determine in advance what rules must be followed and what
special conditions are to be met. For example, must the group
achieve consensus on a decision?
• Identify and assign roles to participants.
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Suggested Activities
Introductory Comments 5 minutes
Audiovisual Presentation 15 minutes
Guided Discussion 30 minutes
Closing Remarks 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME 60 minutes
Introductory Ccuirents (5 uririutes)
1. Water quality problems are solved by first planning, and Use chart 1 on
only later by possibly constructing a facility. Construction Facilities Planning.
must not be predetermined. Often a water quality problem may
be corrected by improved operation and management of existing
facilities or programs.
2. Facility planning is a formal part of the construction
grants process. Preliminary analysis indicates if there is
a need for improved water quality. If the state considers the
project to have priority for funding, the community applies
for a Step 1 grant to prepare a facility plan.
3. The design of the facility may be funded under a Step 2
grant if the facility plan has been approved.
4. Construction will be supported by a Step 3 grant.
5. Finally, the facility is completed, and enters the operation
and management phase.
Audiovisual Presentation (15 minutes)
1. The slide—tape presentation explains the facility planning Audiovisual script
process in the Construction Grants Program of the U.S. Environ— is in the Appendix.
mental Protection Agency.
2. It discusses public participation in general, and highlights
the role for the advisory group in detail.
3. Point out particular aspects or questions in the audio-
visual presentation that have relevance for the local situation.
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Guided Discussion (30 minutes)
Use chart 2 on 1. Citizens have many opportunities for involvement in facility
Citizen Involvement planning. Both information—giving activities such as fact sheets,
in Facility Planning. and information—receiving techniques such as meetings are
involved.
Discuss which measures may be appropriate for the local situation.
Use situation exer— 2. Situation exercises can be used for several objectives.
cise sheets in the They can be used to emphasize important points; they can cover
incidental matters; a change of pace and exchange of ideas can
be accomplished with them. These exercises are intended for
the latter objectives.
3. They are simple to conduct, and they can .be quite refreshing.
The following sequence of activities is followed:
a. Assign the participants to groups of three or more
persons.
b. Pass out the situation sheets to each person.
c. Give each group two or three minutes to discuss
the options and mark theit responses on the sheets.
d. Ask for a show of hands on the various options.
e. Then, explore why certain options were or were not
chosen. Encourage personal experiences to be given
during these exchanges.
f. Often the exercises have no right or wrong answers.
Bring out the ramifications and tradeoffs of the various
options.
Closing R arks (10 minutes)
cha’t 1 on 1. Construction of a wastewater treatment facility is somewhat
.Th tlity Planning, like constructing a house. The family must determine their
needs and desires for the new house, and then determine if they
can find funding.
During planning many alternatives should be considered, and
the impacts of the various alternatives should be weighed.
Finally, the most cost—effective alternative (i.e. the cheapest
one that satisfies the needs) is chosen. Ultimately the design
and construction of the home takes place.
4 2. Answer any remaining questions.
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Selected Resources
Rastatter, Clem L., ed. Municipal Wastewater Management: Citizens
Guide to Facility Planning . FRD—6. Washington, DC: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program Operations,
January 1979. 263 pp.
A publication prepared by the Conservation Foundation,
Washington, DC, it provides a selective and extensive
discussion of activities pertinent to the responsibili-
ties and work of advisory groups. It includes the dis-
cussion on public participation. This publication can
be obtained from: General Services Administration
(8 FF5), Centralized Mailing Lists Services, Building
41, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.
Rastatter, Clem L., ed. Municipal Wastewater Management: Public
Involvement Activities Guide . FRD—7. Washington, DC: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program
Operations, February 1979. 126 pp.
This handbook was prepared by the Conservation Foundation
for use in a training program to acquaint citizen leaders
with the important decisions that are made in planning
municipal wastewater facilities. It condenses the
Citizens Guide to Facility Planning. It is available from
General Services Administration ( S n’S), Centralized Mailing
Lists Services, Building 41, Denver Federal Center, Denver,
CO 80225.
A Training Workshop on Public Participation Skills and Requirements
for Project Managers in the Wastewater Treatment Construction
Grants Program . State of Maryland, Annapolis: Barry Lawson
Associates, Inc., July 17 and 18, 1979. Approximately 100 pp.
This manual is an excellent collection of materials on
considerations in conducting public participation programs.
It features situation exercise sheets, two of which were
adapted for use here. The manual is available from Barry
Lawson Associates, Inc., 148 State Street, Boston, MA 02109.
Deese, P. L. and J. F. Hudson. Planning Wastewater Management
Facilities for Small Communities . Draft. Cincinnati, OH:
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research
and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, July j979.
141 pp.
This manual presents a set of procedures for planning wastewater
management for small communities and is directed at areas with
populations less than 10,000 persons. Fart 1 was prepared to
give an overview of the planning process and is most useful for
the advisory group. Part 2 is a technical reference showing
details using case studies. Order from ORD Publications Center
for Environmental Research lnfornation, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 26 West St. Clair Street, Cincinnati, OH 45268.
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Appendix
A. Contents of charts for use by instructor in the suggested
activities. These charts may be used to make transparencies or
the contents may be copied onto chalkboards.
1. Facilities Planning
2. Citizen Involvement
B. Handouts for use by the
Copies will need to be made
1. Situation Exercise
a. Situation A: Environmental Impact Statement
b. Situation B: Treatment Alternatives
c. Situation C: Citizen Protest
d. Situation D: Public Involvement
C. Copy of the script for the slide—tape program, uOverview of
Facility Planning.”
in Facility Planning
instructor in the guided discussions.
for each participant.
Sheets
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Facilities Planning
Assess current situation
Assess future situation
Identify alternatives
Make environmental assessment
Conduct cost-effectiveness analysis
Select alternative
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Ciiiz IN’ OLVEMENT IN FAcILITY PLANNING
News releases —
Specialists —
Presentations —
to constituents
Workshops —
Study —
comini t tees
Informational —
meeting
Assess
ci -rent situation
4,
Assess
future situation
4,
Identify
Alternatives
4,
ivironn nta1
Asses r nt
4
Cost-Effectiveness
Analysis
4,
Select Alternative
— Fact sheet
— Public meetings
— Local ex perience
solicitation
— Raise issues
— Facility tours
— Study cominittees
— Public hearing
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SITUATION A: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Every facility .project is required to conduct an environmental assessmenc.
This assessment is sometimes the basis for determining the justification of an
Environmental Impact Statement (E IS) by the EPA. Special interest groups
often seek to provide input in project decision making, or seek to delay the
project through the preparation of an ElS.
On the advisory group to a 201 grantee you represent interests who desire
to see that an E IS is done. The grantee is reluctant to begin one. The EPA
does not feel that an E IS is warranted. Your organization is thinking about
bringing litigation against the EPA to force preparation of an EIS. In this
situation you should:
(Choose one or more below)
______ (a) present the concerns of your organization to the advisory group
(b) use your role as an advisory group member to influence the grantee
_____ (c) lead an advisory group subcommittee in studying the claims of
your interest group
(c i) seek a vote of support from the advisory group that an E IS is
needed
_____ (e) resign membership on the advisory group because of potential con-
flicts of interest
_____ (f) other:
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SITUATION B: TREAThENT ALTERNATIVES
In Step 1 facility planning the range of planning considerations is quite
large. In developing wastewater treatment and disposal options, these considera-
tions include:
• small—scale and central treatment options
• land treatment
• reduced wastewater flows, Including water conservation,
recycling, and reuse
• innovative and alternative technologies
• multiple use opportunities
• local conditions.
Thoughtful analysis of each topic is formidable. In dealing with the problem
you decide to:
(Choose one or more below)
______ (a) call in the consultant for regular briefings
_____ (b) form advisory group subcommittees, each of which Is responsible for
studying particular aspects
_____ (c) participate in water quality management training sessions
_____ (d) react to draft decisions by the grantee
_____ (e) solicit the advice of the community on each topic
(f) other: _________________________________________________________
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SITUATION C: CITIzEN PROTEST
While in the midst of reviewing a community’s facility plan you are con-
tacted by the irate representative of a newly—formed citizens’ group. The
plan’s summary of public participation appears more than adequate for the
abbreviated program the community was to conduct. No opposition appears in
the public hearing transcript. It seems, however, that this group of citizens
finally woke up, after the hearing, to the fact that the proposed facility
will increase their local taxes by 10% and require a user charge of nearly
$200 per year. The citizens’ group now thinks that the facility plan should be
scrapped and the whole process started over. Thinking quickly while the
citizens’ group representative waits on the other end of the line, you decide
to:
(Choose one or more below
_____ (a) ask him to call back in an hour after you’ve had a chance to
read through the file, and then leave the phone off the hook
for the rest of the day
_____ (b) explain that all legal requirements have been met and that
initiating a new study would be tremendously expensive
(c) express your concern and promise to get back to them as soon
as possible
(d) tell him that you understand his group’s concern and will require
that an additional public meeting be held on the cost issue
(e) other:
Adapted from materials supplied by Barry Lawson Associates, Inc.
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SITuATIoN D: Pt.&ic IN’ LV EF1T
Late in Step One planning, a discussion with a community’s consultant shows
that the treatment facility will probably be built on a site abutting residen-
tial properties. The preferred alternative has not been chosen, but this site
seems the best for any of the treatment methods under.consideration. The
consultant claims to have conducted a respectable public participation program,
but says that no input has been received from these abutters. A confrontation
later in Steps Two and Three is feared. You suggest that;
(Choose one or more below)
(a) the consultant should personally call on the abutters and make
sure they are aware of the 201 planning process
(b) a local official should talk with the abutters
(c) a special fact sheet or letter should be sent to the abutters
pointing out the reasons why a facility may be built near them
_____ (d) a meeting should be held involving the abutters, the consultant,
local officials, and yourself
_____ (e) the abutters should be specially invited to the regular public
hearing
_____ (f) other:
Adapted from materials supplied by Barry Lawson Associates, Inc.
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Audiovisual Script
OVERVIEW OF FACILITY PLANNING
Slide Description Narrative
1. Words: Start cassette
on this slide
2. Title slide Music
3. Picture: Sewage treatment plant Let’s face it, a sewage treatment plant
lacks the appeal of a new park or a new
public library.
4. Picture: Sewage pollution Most people have little interest in
problem area sewage until it poses a serious threat
to their community or family. Their
concern may be related to health problems,
a public nuisance, or higher taxes caused
by sewage treatment problems.
5. Words: Why improve an existing Why does a community take the necessary
facility or build a new steps to build or improve existing sewage
one? treatment facilities? There are several
possible explanations.
6. Words: Voluntary community action to develop or
— improve public facilities improve public facilities,
— remove a public nuisance To remove a public nuisance or community
problem,
— comply with health codes Compliance with local or other public
health codes,
— comply with pollution Compliance with federal pollution control
regulations regulations or state water quality
standards
— comply with court order Compliance with court orders.
7. Words: While local desires of public health
Super over water scene: considerations may be factors, most
communities must deal with sewage treat-
ment problems for two reasons:
— Federal Clean Water Act The Federal Clean Water Act of 1977, and
— State Water Quality Standards the state water quality standards.
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8. Picture:
Lake with canoe
9. Picture:
Secondary treatment in
sewage plant
10. Words:
BOD & suspended solids are mea-
sures of pollution strength
11. Words:
Super over sewage treatment plant:
— National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System
12. Graphic:
Animated character (state)
turning off valve on “Pollution
Drain” into resort lake
13. Graphic:
Animated character limiting
water pollution
14. Picture:
Attractive treatment facility
15. Picture:
EPA construction grants
program brochure
Through the Clean Water Act, Congress and
the President have established a national
goal of water suitable for fishing and
swimming.
The Act requires at least secondary
treatment for all publicly owned sewage
systems. Secondary treatment generally
removes 85% of BOD and suspended solids
from sewage. This amounts to no more than
30 mg/i of BOD and suspended solids
remaining in the effluent. (Pause)
Effluent is that purified water leaving
the treatment plant.
BOD, meaning biochemical oxygen demand,
and suspended solids are measures of
pollution strength.
Enforcement of these regulations is insured
through the National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) that requires
permits for the wastewater discharges.
States determine how much pollution can
enter a water body by establishing water
quality standards. These standards are
based on the potential uses of the water
body.
In order to meet and maintain these stan-
dards, limitations are placed on
industrial and municipal discharges.
These limitations often determine the
type of treatment facilities which must
be built and the level of treatment
which must be used.
The advisory group should understand from
the outset the community is developing
a wastewater facility plan. The events
or conditions which cause a community to
look at its wastewater problems go a long
way toward determining the outcome.
No matter what initiates the planning,
most communities want the federal grant
to help pay for new or upgraded treatment
facilities. These grants are available
through the construction grants program.
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It provides for up to 85% funding of the
eligible cost of planning, designing and
constructing municipal wastewater treat-i
ment facilities to help attain the water
quality goals.
16. Graphic:
— Local agency
— State agency
- U.S. EPA
— Construction grants process
17. Graphic: Water pollution problem,
state priority list
18. Graphic: State priority list, EPA
19. Graphic: Application for Step 1
Grant, facility
planning
20. Picture: Advisory group
The construction grants process is the
required stepwise procedure necessary to
eventually receive a federal grant for
the project.
Three main governmental bodies are involved
in the construction grants process. They
are the local agency, the state agency,
and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency or EPA.
After the municipality or local agency
certifies its water quality needs, it will
seek to have its project placed on the
state priority list. This priority list
is a ranking of proposed projects in order
of importance and other state priorities.
It considers the severity of the pollution
problem, the number of people affected
and the need to preserve high quality
water bodies. The priority list is
subject to a public hearing each year.
The state then submits its ranking list
to EPA which must approve the project
before it can be considered for federal
funds. If EPA approves, the municipality’s
consulting firm develops an application
for a Step 1 grant.
The Step 1 grant leads to facility planning.
The facility plan, a distinct document
submitted to EPA, has the objective of making
sure that a cost—effective solution is
developed to the pollution problem with
minimum adverse environmental impact.
The Clean Water Act requires public
involvement during facility planning.
This is the principle time for advisory
group input.
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21. Graphics: Step 2 Grant, Design
Stage
22. Graphic: Step 3 Grant, Construction
Stage
23. Picture: WW Treatment Plant
Under Construction
24. Picture: WW Treatment Plant
in Operation
25. Words:
Super over Advisory Group:
— Facility planning and Advisory
Groups
26. Words: Public participation makes
good sense because of:
— Incorporating public
values
— Assuring reasonable cost
— Adding community benefits
— Resolving controversies
— Voter support for
proj ect
27. Words: Facility Planning
— Public involvement
28. Picture: Advisory Group meeting
29. Words:
Super over natural scene:
— Full scale public partici-
pation program
When the facility planning is completed,
a facility plan is submitted to the
state and EPA for approval and a Step 2
grant amendment. The Step 2 grant pro-
vides funds for the design of the
facilities.
When the plans are ready, the grantee
submits them to the state and EPA. If
they are approved and funding is provided,
the construction phase is ready to begin.
After construction of the plant is
completed the operation and management
begins. This is a critical stage of the
project, where good previous planning
will pay off.
Let’s return now to the very important
facility planning stage and see what
goes into planning and why public
participation is so important.
Public participation makes good sense In
facility planning for several reasons
including: incorporating public values,
assuring reasonable cost, adding
community benefits, resolving contro-
versies and gaining voter support for the
costs. After all, it is for the public,
and they should be aware of what is
going on.
Public participation is a requirement
of the Step 1 project phase. There are
two levels of public participation.
The basic level requires a public
information program and public
involvement.
This includes consultation in the early
stages of facility planning and a public
meeting and hearing in the latter
stages.
Among other things, when an environmental
impact statement or advanced waste
treatment is called for, a full—scale
participation program Is required.
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30. Words:
Super over person working in
office:
— Hire Public Participation
Coordinator
31. Words;
Super over public meeting:
— Hold a public meeting
32. Words:
Super over Advisory
Committee Meeting:
— Gettysburg Advisory Group
33. Picture: Water Fall
34. Words:
FACILITY PLANNING STEPS
1 — Assessment of the current
situation
2 — Assessment of the future
situation
3 — Identification of
alternatives
4 — Environmental assessment
5 — Cost—effectiveness
analysis
6 — Selection of recommended
alternatives
35. Words:
Super over natural scene:
1) Assessment of the current
situation
36. Words:
Super over beach scene:
— Community resources
At this point, a public participation
coordinator must be hired or designated
to carry out the public participation
work plan.
A second public meeting must also be held
early in the facility planning process
when curnnt and future considerations
are being identified and alternatives
screened. The basic level simply requires
unspecified consultation at this point.
A citizen advisory committee, of which
you are possibly a member, is established
to provide advice to the grantee or
local agency.
MUSICAL BRIDGE
It is now important to review the
facility planning process. It can be
separated into several steps and there
is a role for the advisory group in each.
These steps to be detailed are:
1 — Assessment of the current situation
2 — Assessment of the future situation
3 — Identification of alternatives
4 — Environmental assessment
5 — Cost—effectiveness analysis
6 — Selection of recommended alternatives
The first step is a critical step for public
involvement. During this step, the problem
must be accurately identified. Problem
identification will largely determine what
alternatives can be looked at.
Concurrently, the agency will be gathering
information on the planning area, such
as institutions, population, environment
and water quality. Data will be needed
by the advisory group to verify accurancy
and adequacy. Important community resources
to be protected must also be determined.
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37. Words:
Super over wastewater treatment
plant:
2) Assessment of the future situation
38. Words:
Future Issues
• Geographic Area
• Projected Land Uses
• Total Wastewater Flow Estimate
39. Words:
Super over Advisory Group:
Population Projections
Sewer service area
Future capacity of the facility must be
determined by population studies and input
by the advisory group. The plant must be
designed for the future population, and
for ease in expansion.
The answers to these
difficult to obtain.
extremely important.
issues are:
*What Geographic area will the facility
serve?
*What are the projected land uses?
*How is the total wastewater flow
estimated?
Each of these issues has a major impact
on the facility. Detailed analysis of
these issues by the advisory group is
warranted. Many of these issues relate
to population projections and the size
of the sewer service area.
40. Graphic:
$ 30%, treatment plant
$ 70%, sewers
These issues of future population,
service area and sewer size are so
important that it deserves considerable
attention by the advisory group. Approx-
imately 70 percent of wastewater funds
are spent for the collection system.
41. Picture: Sewer construction
42. Picture: Sewer construction
43. Words;
Super over wastewater plant:
3) Identification of
Alternatives
You should be interested in sewers for
reasons other than just cost. Sewers
affect future land uses by directing
development into areas where they are
constructed, and they can affect the
future growth of your community.
The potential for growth promoted by
this large sewer was so great in the
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania facility plan,
that EPA ordered an environmental impact
statement to be prepared.
There are many ways that the wastewater
may be collected and treated.
issues are very
However, they are
Some of these
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44. Words:
• No facility
• Conventional treatment
• Land application
• Small community and
onsite systems
• Wastewater effluent
reuse
45. Words:
Super of no facility and X
over treatment plant
46. Picture: Conventional wastewater
treatment facility
47. Picture: Land treatment
48. Picture: Onsite treatment
49. Picture: Steel Mill
50. Words: Alternative Technologies
Reuse water
Reclaim valuable
materials
Eliminate the discharge
of pollutants
Recover energy
Local conditions and constraints usually
reduce the range of o tions. Four or
five basic approaches should be considered.
They are:
— No facility
— Conventional treatment
— Land application
— Small community and onsite systems
— Wastewater effluent reuse
Are new facilities really required?
Can operation be improved or flows
reduced to the existing facility by
water conservation?
Or, there Is the conventional wastewater
treatment option in which wastewater is
delivered to a central facility. The
cost is sometimes high, but it is time—
proven and dependable.
Next, one might consider centralized
treatment followed by land application
of the wastewater. This may be an
alternative to expensive advanced waste
treatment systems.
Small community onsite treatment and
disposal is an important option that
should be considered. With this
approach the facility plan is really a
management plan for onsite systems rather
than a plan for construction of
treatment facilities. Onsite disposal,
as land treatment or reuse, qualifies
as an alternative technology according
to EPA guidelines.
Wastewater treatment and reuse for
Industrial cooling or recreation are
also alternatives. For example, Baltimore
City effluent is used by a steel mill
for cooling water.
Alternative technologies reuse water,
reclaim materials, eliminate discharges
of pollutants or recover energy.
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51. Words: Innovative Technologies
Reduce:
Life cycle cost by 15%
OR
Energy requirement by 2O%
53. Words:
Super over rural scene:
4) Environmental Assessment
and/or Environmental impact
statement
These technologies combined with innova-
tive technologies which either reduce
life cycle or energy costs, will qualify
the project for 85% federal funding for
design and construction. This is an
increase of 10% over conventional tech-
nologies and a possible reduction in
local cost of 40%.
The advisory group can determine the
advantages and disadvantages of the
various alternatives. Members must
assure themselves that all feasible
alternatives are being considered. The
group must also determine if the
alternatives are compatible with the
208 areawide plan.
The environmental information document is
prepared during the facility planning as
part of the assessment of the different
alternatives. This assessment must take
into account both health and safety
considerations that may be affected.
These considerations may involve the plant
either directly or indirectly.
54. Picture:
Wastewater plant
construction
An environmental information document
is prepared during facility planning.
This is reviewed by EPA to determine
whether a full environmental impact
statement is warranted. An environmental
impact statement must be prepared when
the plan will cause or induce significant
land use changes or adverse affect on
water quality, noise, public lands,
recreational or historic opportunity.
55. Picture: Advisory Group
56. Words:
Super over lake:
5) Cost—effectiveness analysis
When industrial waste pretreatment is
inadequate to protect uses of the water,
or where significant social dislocations
will occur, an environmental impact
study must be done. It is obvious that
considerable input by the advisory
group in representing the public is
called for during this process.
The final selection of the wastewater
treatment alternative is completed within
the framework of cost—effectiveness
analysis. This is a method of deter-
mining how well an option achieves its
objectives in terms of economic, social
and environmental costs.
52. Picture: Advisory Group
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57. Picture: Advisory Group The advisory group should be concerned
with environmental and social considera-
tions.
58. Words: Which alternative? Which alternatives have the least cost
without overriding environmental and
social considerations? Costs including
operations, management and debt retire-
ment should be brought to a per capita
basis.
59. Words: By the time the agency, consultant,
Super over Advisory Group: advisory group and public have reached
6) Selecting the alternative this point in the facility planning
process, the selection of the altennative
should be straight forward.
60. Graphic: Chronology of a The whole process of constructing waste—
construction grant water treatment facilities or even the
planning of wastewater management is
neither simple, nor short. As much as
two years may be required before the
design is done and as much as five to
seven years may be required to complete
the project.
61. Picture: Advisory Group Although facility planning accounts for
only 5% of the total construction grant
dollars spent, it does dictate how the
remaining 95% will be spent in design
and construction. (Pause) Therefore,
great care must be taken during this
process so as to insure best use of the
money.
62. Picture: Advisory Group The advisory group must also heed the
suggestions of the townspeople. The
advisory group must try to incorporate
these suggestions into the facility
planning process to guarantee support
of the project. Some alternatives offer
the opportunity for reusing wastewater,
reducing energy, recycling or reusing
resources and conserving water, resulting
In substantial savings to homeowners.
63. Credits MUSIC.
fl S GCVEFCS 1 ? PRINTSWG O?FICt 1980 341—082/112
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Working for Clean Water is a program designed to help
advisory groups improve decision making in water quality planning.
It atms at helping people focus on essential issues and questions,
by providing trained instructors and materials suitable for persons
with non—technical backgrounds. These materials include a citizen
handbook on important principles and considerations about topics
in water quality planning, an audiovisual presentation , and in-
structor guide for elaborating points, providing additional infor-
mation, and engaging in problem—solving exercises.
This program consists of 18 informational units on various
aspects of water quality planning:
Role of Advisory Groups Innovative and Alternative
Technologies
Public Participation
Industrial Pretreatment
Nonpoint Source Pollution:
Agriculture, Forestry, and Land treatment
Mining
Water Conservation and
Urban Stormwater Runoff Reuse
Groundwater Contamination Multiple Use
Facility Planning in the Environmental Assessment
Construction Grants Program
Cost—Effectiveness Analysis
Municipal Wastewater
Processes: Overview Aastewa er Facilities
Operation and Maintenance
Municipal Wastewater
Processes: Details Financial Management
Small Systems
The units are not designad to make technical experts out of citizens
and local officials, Each unit contains essential facts, key ques-
tions, advice on how to deal with the issues, and clearly—written
technical backgrounds. In short, each unit provides the information
that citizen advisors need to better fulfill their role.
This program is available through public participation coordinators
at the regional offices of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency.
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