EPA Consulting Services

The collection and treatment of domestic sewage and wastewater is vital to public health and clean water. It is among the most important factors responsible for the general level of good health enjoyed in the United States. Sewers collect sewage and wastewater from homes, businesses, and industries and deliver it to wastewater treatment facilities before it is discharged to water bodies or land, or reused.

Protecting America’s drinking water is a top priority for EPA. EPA has established protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, including drinking water regulations issued since the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act that strengthen public health protection.  Over 92 percent of the population supplied by community water systems receives drinking water that meets all health-based standards all of the time.

Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment.The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste.

Accidents or other activities at Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities sometimes result in releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents into soil, groundwater, surface water, sediments, or air. The Corrective Action Program requires such facilities to conduct investigations and cleanup actions (remediation of the contamination) as necessary to protect human health and the environment. EPA developed guidance documents to assist regulators, members of the regulated community, and members of the public understand and implement Corrective Action cleanup of different types of media, including: groundwater, soil, and air (vapor intrusion) after a release has occurred.