Puerto Rico
Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2008
The Clean Watersheds Needs
Survey (CWNS) is a comprehensive
assessment of needs1 to meet the water
quality and water-related public health
goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
States and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) conduct the
CWNS every four years under CWA
Section 516 (b). Puerto Rico
documented needs totaling $4.8 billion
in 2008. This is a 10 percent increase
from the $4.3 billion m needs
documented in 2004.
Documented Needs in Puerto Rico
Needs (2008 Dollars, Millions)
Type of Need
2004
2008
Percent Change
Wastewater treatment
$1,143
$1,046
-8%
Pipe repair and new pipes
$3,189
$3,684
16%
Recycled water distribution
nra
nr
0%
Combined sewer overflow correction
$0
$23
n/a
Total Wastewater Treatment Needs
$4,332
$4,753
10%
Conveyance infrastructure
n/a
nr
n/a
Treatment systems
n/a
nr
n/a
Green infrastmcture
n/a
nr
n/a
General stormwater management
nr
nr
0%
Total Stormwater Management Needsb
nr
nr
0%,
Agriculture (cropland) best management practices (BMPs)
nr
nr
0%
Agriculture (animals) BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Silviculture (forestry) BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Ground water protection: unknown source BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Marinas BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Resource extraction BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Brownfields remediation
nr
nr
0%
Storage tank remediation
nr
nr
0%
Sanitary landfills BMPs
nr
nr
0%
Hydroniodification (Water resource restoration and protection)
nr
nr
0%
Other estuary management activities0
n/a
nr
n/a
Total Nonpoint Source Control NeedsM
nr
nr
0%,
Total Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Needsb'd
nr
nr
0%>
Total Needs
$4,332
$4,753
10%. |
aNot reported; Actual needs may be higher, since documenting these needs is difficult; °In 2004, Other Estuary Management
Needs were reported under Separate State Estimates (SSEs); dNot included in Official Needs in the Report to Congress.
Municipio Needs ($M)
None reported
<40
40-140 *
> 140
1 Documented needs in the CWNS include the unfunded capital costs of projects as of January 1,2008 that address a water
quality or a water quality-related public health problem existing as of January 1,2008, or expected to occur within the next 20
years; and meet the seven CWNS documentation criteria. All needs are in January 2008 dollars.

-------
Puerto Rico
Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2008
Wastewater Treatment Facilities
The enactment of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1972 resulted in dramatic improvements in the:
•	Number of wastewater treatment plants.
•	Percentage of the population served by wastewater treatment plants.
•	Quality of effluent treatment from wastewater treatment facilities.
In 2008, 30% of Puerto Rico residents received centralized wastewater treatment services at the
secondary, advanced, or no discharge treatment level, compared to 1% in 1972.
Number of Centralized Treatment Facilities and Population Served
Number of Facilities
Population Served
%Total	%Total
Population	Population
Treatment Level
1972
2008
Projected"
1972
1972
2008
2008
Projected3
Less than Secondary
19
4
3
948,000
31
1,188,835
30
1,216,840
Secondary
3
41
24
23,000
<1
1,170,471
30
1,320,338
Advanced
1
1
18
6,000
<1
27,187
<1
376,868
No Discharge
0
1
2
0
0
527
<1
110,579
Total
23
47
47
977,000
32
2,387,020
60
3,024,625
a Number of facilities and population served if all needs documented in the CWNS 2008 are met.
Small Communities
In Puerto Rico, small community
wastewater facilities serve 1% of the
population and comprise 2% of total
wastewater treatment and collection
needs. EPA small community support
information is available at:
www. epa. gov/owm/mab/smcomm
Reported Needs for Facilities in Small Communities
Facilities
Population 2004 2008
Needs (2008 Dollars, Millions)
2004 2008
0-999 0 0
1,000-3,499 1 1
3,500-10,000 2 3
$0 $0
$21 $1
$36 $92
Total 3 4 $57 $94
Visit www.epa.gov/cwns for more information including:
•	Detailed Reports to Congress
•	Other state fact sheets
•	Maps, charts, and data downloads for projects, facilities, watersheds, counties, congressional
districts, cities, states, and regions

-------