An initial white paper profiling the characteristics of small wastewater systems asked a representative number of NRWA member systems about their familiarity with and impacts from the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program. A substantial number of system contacts (these included management and operations) knew little to nothing about the TMDL program.

The TMDL program has a high potential to materially alter wastewater discharge permits and require capital outlays to meet the new discharge parameters. For example of the systems contacted, capital outlays directly attributable to changes dictated by the TMDL program ranged from $50,000 to $15,000,000.

Currently there are 36,000+ developed TMDLs and reportedly up to 55,000 are expected to be developed.  The likelihood that rural systems will be impacted is high yet there is little understanding or recognition of the regulatory “train” bearing down on small rural systems.

To improve the knowledge base of the NRWA members relative to the TMDL program, a one hour webinar training program will be offered that will describe basic elements of the TMDL program, how it relates to other parts of the Clean Water Act specifically designated uses, water quality criteria and NPDES permits, modeling problems/limitations, some recent and relevant court cases, and potential economic impacts to small and rural communities.

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