Will Reforms Improve Sewage Treatment Plant Performance

After an exhaustive investigation, a Congressional subcommittee recommended more than 20 legislative and administrative reforms aimed at improving performance and economy of the wastewater treatment plants being built under the Clean Water Act. Some of the reforms were written into the 1981 Amendments to the Act which President Reagan signed last December. This article addresses key areas of reform, describing main features of the new law and discussing those areas in which further reforms may be forthcoming. Subjects included are reduction of federal funding level; liberalization of deadlines, definitions, and policies; accountability of municipalities and design engineers; turnkey projects; enforcement; and training of personnel.