Clean water is essential to public health but many communities across the United States face significant challenges in maintaining their wastewater infrastructure. These challenges include aging systems, limited staff, and insufficient resources to plan or finance upgrades. To assess infrastructure needs and guide investment decisions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) in partnership with states. The CWNS plays a critical role in documenting the capital investments required to meet the water quality goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA) over the next 20 years.
CWNS covers a range of wastewater infrastructure categories like stormwater, non-point source and decentralized wastewater treatment. However, this blog focuses specifically on publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that serve fewer than 10,000 people and summarizes key findings that can inform funding, and technical support efforts at the state and local level. These small systems are the backbone of rural and small-town wastewater management, serving roughly 25 million Americans. Despite their importance, small systems are often underrepresented in national planning and underfunded in infrastructure investment decisions.
Small Wastewater Systems’ Participation in CWNS
CWNS collects detailed technical data on treatment processes, design flows, service populations, effluent levels, and infrastructure needs. However, many small wastewater systems struggle to join CWNS due to limited staff and resources. Only 5,715 out of 12,867 small POTWs submitted their needs. Even fewer were initially identified through the Small Community Form (SCF), a simplified pathway meant to facilitate participation. The low participation limits small systems’ visibility in federal and state funding. Therefore, supporting small systems to navigate the CWNS survey is essential to ensure their challenges are reflected in national reports and can help unlock future funding opportunities.
Wastewater Infrastructure Challenges
Small systems often rely on older infrastructure and face challenges in maintaining financial sustainability to meet regulatory standards. The CWNS survey identifies compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) limits, and preparation for future permit changes as major reasons for funding needs. Additionally, the CWNS cites funding needs to address unregulated but pressing water quality and public health concerns as well as improving system efficiencies.
Infrastructure Funding Needs of Small Systems
The 2022 CWNS estimates that small systems require approximately $41 billion in documented infrastructure needs. These needs are defined as the capital costs required to address existing or anticipated water quality problems over the next 20 years. However, many more needs likely go unreported due to participation barriers.
In contrast, the 2023 CWSRF allocation provided $8.8 billion in total annual assistance for all systems nationwide. This underscores a massive funding shortfall, particularly for small systems that may lack matching funds or the administrative capacity to navigate application processes.
Moreover, CWNS organizes infrastructure funding needs into specific categories. The categories range from water treatment processes to infiltration, replacement, combined sewer overflows, and water reuse. More than 50% of the funding needs reported are for meeting water quality standards through secondary and advanced treatment processes, with additional significant needs for facility rehabilitation and associated infrastructure upgrades.
The funding needs are particularly critical in states like West Virginia, Florida, and Colorado, where small systems reported high and diverse needs across categories. Targeted funding and support are essential to ensure that these systems do not fall further behind.
Supporting Small System Participation
Improving CWNS participation can start with increased assistance during the process. Many small systems need help compiling data, understanding requirements, and completing forms. EPA, state agencies, and technical assistance providers all have roles to play in improving participation in CWNS. When small systems are equipped to fully participate, their needs can be more accurately documented and prioritized in funding decisions.
For local officials and system operators, engaging with CWNS is not just a reporting exercise. It’s a chance to secure long-term investment in your community’s health and infrastructure.
Planning for the Future
CWNS offers a roadmap to a cleaner, more sustainable water future. But for small systems, realizing that vision requires overcoming barriers to participation, closing the funding gap, and expanding access to technical assistance.
By investing in small system engagement and supporting their inclusion in the CWNS process, federal and state agencies can help ensure that all communities can access funding and resources needed to improve water quality and meet the goals of the Clean Water Act.