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NODP
Phase II 
Community
Benefits/ Barriers
Participating
States
State
Regulations
Overview
Purpose:
Phase II of the National Onsite Demonstration Project (NODP)
will continue to build on the experiences of previous NODP
accomplishments. Phase II of the NODP will employ a variety
of diverse activities to promote the use of onsite wastewater
treatment technologies and management systems as viable alternatives
to full central sewage systems for use in small communities
and environmentally sensitive areas.
Need:
The rationale for this project lies in the fact that all Americans,
regardless of geographic location or income, are entitled
to basic sanitary services. Safe drinking water and adequately
treating and disposing of wastewater are fundamental to protecting
and ensuring public and environmental health. Identifying
and demonstrating viable technological and managerial solutions
to community water and wastewater problems is one important
way in which to ensure the protection of health and the environment.
Objectives:
- Help
local officials access the funding, management, and technical
assistance resources they need to solve their wastewater
treatment problems.
- Form
working partnerships and alliances with state/regional organizations,
regulators, and national organizations, and work with equipment
manufacturers and the industry to further project goals.
- Provide
both training programs and public education programs that
increase the state's ability to provide training to professionals
in the following areas: small community/onsite wastewater
treatment options, onsite system operation/maintenance and
financing, and other topics as needed.
- Conduct
technology demonstrations that address environmental, economicand
social constraints.
- Assist
state/communities in the development of management districts
through training and small tart-up grants.
- Provide
a variety of national information dissemination mechanisms
to inform states andcommunities about wastewater needs within
the region, NODP accomplishments, and results.
- Increase
state capacity by coordinating activities with the state
health department s and the state environmental protection
department to raise states’ ability to deal with onsite
wastewater issues.
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Vision
The
vision that guides Phase II of the National Onsite Demonstration
Project is to facilitate the adoption of proven innovative
onsite, cluster and small community sewage disposal technologies
and management systems in communities located in selected
states that are receptive to, but may not currently permit,
the use of these systems. The results of these demonstration
projects are disseminated so that they can serve as models
for other communities
Projects carried out under the NODP typically involve the
following components: designing, constructing, implementing,
maintaining, managing and monitoring technologies; providing
relevant information and technical assistance to local officials
and citizens; maximizing efficiencies through partnerships;
assisting in the creation of management districts; providing
training and public education opportunities; and disseminating
information nationwide about NODP accomplishments and results
through a variety of means.
Experience
The experience
gained from previous phases of NODP has led to the following
observations
- The
value of demonstrations as an educational tool is evident
from this project. All the participating communities have
been the focus of educational activities. Thousands have
visited these sites, including installers, contractors,
regulators, engineers and homeowners. They have learned
about the effectiveness of alternative onsite and cluster
systems. In addition, educational and technology transfer
activities by the communities, such as local and national
presentations, dissemination of educational materials, and
promotional activities have led to national-level awareness
of these demonstrations. Additionally, demonstration sites
have been used by state onsite training centers and by those
conducting in-depth research.
- The
NODP model has been successful and is being used for all
phases of the project. This model advocates interaction
between the community, a panel of experts, federal and state
agencies, educational institutions and the National Small
Flows Clearinghouse. This model uses a "bottom-up"
approach, where the community defines its wastewater problems
and works with other entities to find appropriate solutions.
This model incorporates programmatic flexibility to allow
for variation among the communities.
- The
NODP has successfully demonstrated that alternative onsite
or cluster systems can be viable and cost-effective alternatives
to centralized sewers in small communities and environmentally
sensitive areas.
- Demonstrations
are catalysts of public-private partnerships. Each Community
is leveraging additional resources from the public and private
sectors. In most cases, city engineering and/or health departments
are providing leadership and personnel, and private entities
are donating materials or resources to the project.
- Even
though budgetary and other local constraints often stretch
the capabilities of the communities, the efforts and accomplishments
of all of the communities are significant in terms of funding
appropriate solutions to their wastewater problems. Additionally,
interactions between the demonstration communities as the
project progresses provide an unprecedented forum for them
to share problems and solutions.
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