First Stop Toolbox for Lagoons
The first stop toolbox is designed to provide permit compliance assistance to small community lagoon wastewater facility operators (or their managers such as mayors or local decision makers). It is designed for those experiencing compliance challenges for ammonia, nitrogen and/or phosphorus or those who otherwise wish to improve their facility operations. The toolbox will not collect and store user information and is not used for regulatory purposes.
This toolbox is intended to guide the user through a sequence of questions aimed at identifying the best resources for the user to return to compliance and/or address identified challenges.
The toolbox provides guidance and resources on Compliance/Technical Assistance, Technology Solutions, Financial Assistance, and Regulatory Options.
Please select the option below that best describes your role.
Toolbox Users, please indicate the category you fall
under:
Permit violations are often the result of one or more of
the following contributors:
Jump to:
Process Control and Operations & Maintenance
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Is all critical equipment associated with the lagoon system functional? For example, pumps, valves, aerators, baffle curtains, etc. | |
| Was there an operational error of misunderstanding that led to non-compliance? | |
| Is there significant bank vegetation growth, algae, floating solids, waterfowl, leaking dikes, or excessive odors observed in and around the lagoon? | |
| Is there significant aquatic vegetation growth? For example, duckweed, cattails, etc. |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Inflow and Infiltration
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Is there an increase in flow entering the lagoon during and directly after a rainstorm or spring snow melt? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Climate Change Resiliency
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Is the town or system being adversely affected by severe weather, sea level rise, land subsidence? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Hydraulic Short-Circuiting
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| When observing the lagoon surface are there areas of stagnant water and accumulated solids or vegetation while other areas are clear? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Design Limitations
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Has the town experienced an increase in population size over the last 5 years? | |
| Have permit limits become more stringent since the last permit was issued? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Ammonia Removal Optimization
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Does the system have challenges meeting effluent limits or is out of compliance for ammonia? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Total Nitrogen Removal Optimization
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Does the system have challenges meeting effluent limits or is out of compliance for total nitrogen? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Phosphorus Removal Optimization
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Does the system have challenges meeting effluent limits or is out of compliance for phosphorus? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Technical Assistance Provider List
| Question | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Are you aware of technical assistance providers available to help small community system owners and operators? |
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
If after reviewing the Compliance and Technical Assistance
resources provided and adjusting your system based on
recommendations from the references, you are still unable to
meet permit limits, proceed to the
Technology Solutions
section.
Technology options are available for small wastewater
facilities, and lagoon systems, these systems promote Total
Suspended Solids (TSS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD),
ammonia nitrogen, and nutrients (total nitrogen and/or total
phosphorus) removal. Appropriate feasible options depend on
the pollutant to be removed, the permit requirements, existing
infrastructure, and other site-specific conditions such as
operations and maintenance complexity and staff capability,
land requirements, costs, and likelihood of future upgrades to
meet new regulatory requirements.
Solutions can include one more of the following approaches, the proceeding questions will be used to determine what approaches are best suited for your system.
Solutions can include one more of the following approaches, the proceeding questions will be used to determine what approaches are best suited for your system.
Toolbox Users
Having your permit information available will help you
answer some of the questions in this section.
Jump to:
| Question | Your Answer |
|---|---|
| Does the existing footprint of the facility allow for additional process units or is there space available adjacent to the facility? | |
| Which of the following effluent limits does the facility have challenges meeting? (Check all that apply) | |
| Has influent or sludge volume exceeded the current capacity of the system to maintain adequate freeboard (the space between the lagoon brim and the waterline) in the lagoon due to increased contributions? | |
| Is your treatment system non-discharge AND at capacity? |
Effluent Limit Challenges
You have responded "Yes" or "Unknown" to 3 questions in the Technology Solutions section. We recommend that you reach out to a technical assistance provider for guidance. Please access the resources below to connect with a technical assistance provider:
If after reviewing the Technology Solutions resources provided
and adjusting your system based on recommendations from the
references and/or technical assistance providers, you are
still unable to meet permit limits, or if you need additional
financial support to incorporate the suggested technology
solutions, proceed to the
Financial Assistance
section.
Financial assistance is available for small wastewater
facilities, and lagoon systems, pursuing a number of different
projects aimed at helping to meet effluent limits. Available
financial assistance depends on several aspects including
organization type and customer base size.
Your organization may be eligible for several different financial assistance options, the proceeding questions will be used to determine what options your organization may be eligible for.
Your organization may be eligible for several different financial assistance options, the proceeding questions will be used to determine what options your organization may be eligible for.
Toolbox Users
Did you investigate compliance resources and technology
solutions first? It is highly recommended that you explore
these solutions before investigating financial assistance.
Jump to:
| Question | Your Answer |
|---|---|
| What stage of seeking financial assistance are you currently in? | |
| Do you need assistance in filling out financial paperwork? | |
| Has your community ever applied for financial assistance before? | |
| Do you need assistance in filling out financial paperwork for a current problem? | |
| What is size is your customer base? | |
| Does your community qualify as a Tribe or Alaska Native Village? | |
| Do you need assistance in filling out financial paperwork? | |
| What is size is your customer base? | |
| Does your community qualify as a Tribe or Alaska Native Village? |
If after applying for
Financial Assistance
using the resources provided, and working through the
Compliance and Technical Assistance
and
Technology Solutions
sections of the toolbox, you are still unable to meet permit
limits, please proceed to the
Regulatory Options
section.
If after applying for funding using the
Financial Assistance
section and receiving an application decision, reviewing and
implementing solutions from the
Technology Solutions
section, and adjusting your system based on recommendations from
references and TA Provider contacts provided in the
Compliance and Technical Assistance
section, you are still unable to meet permit limits, your system
may be eligible to explore certain Regulatory Options.
| Question | Your Answer |
|---|---|
| Have you explored technology and financing options to meet your permit limits? | |
| Do you have plans to meet permit requirements, but need additional time to modify or upgrade treatment facilities? | |
| Are there feasible actions you could take or technologies you could utilize to reduce the pollutants in your effluent over time, even if you are still not able to meet your permit requirement? |
Consider revisiting the Compliance and Technical Assistance and Technology Solutions sections. Then consider talking to your state or authorized Tribe about whether a permit compliance schedule is an appropriate option. A permit compliance schedule may be appropriate when the Water Quality-Based Effluent Limit (WQBEL) based on the applicable Water Quality Standard (WQS) is achievable, but the discharger needs additional time to modify or upgrade treatment facilities in order to meet its WQBEL. In such a case, a permit compliance schedule would specify a schedule and resulting milestones will lead to compliance "as soon as possible". See Clean Water Act Section 502(17) for a definition of "schedules of compliance" and 40 CFR 122.47.
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Consider revisiting the Compliance and Technical Assistance and Technology Solutions sections. Then consider talking to your state or authorized Tribe about whether the desired condition or water quality target (criteria) that your permit limit is based on is appropriate.
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|
Consider revisiting the Compliance and Technical Assistance and Technology Solutions sections. Then consider talking to your state or authorized Tribe about whether a water quality standard (WQS) variance would be an appropriate path forward. A WQS variance can be appropriate to address situations where the designated use and associated criterion are shown to be unattainable for a period of time, but feasible progress could be made toward attaining the designated use and criterion.
| Reference Title | URL | Description |
|---|