Toolbox for Completing an Alternatives Analysis as Part of an Integrated Planning Approach to Water Quality Compliance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed an Integrated Planning Framework to assist communities in addressing Clean Water Act requirements while allowing greater flexibility to consider sustainable and comprehensive solutions. While communities are considering using the Framework, there is uncertainty surrounding what it takes to develop a cost-effective, implementable integrated plan. This User’s Guide for Integrated Wastewater and Stormwater Planning is intended to help a community determine if it should embark on an integrated plan and to provide resources for developing a plan. The case studies span community experiences ranging from not pursuing integrated planning to completing a plan and having it accepted by the regulators. Updated in 2019, this package includes results of the 2019 Community Insights Survey on applying the integrated planning framework, along with a project report including community and municipal case studies. These materials provide a user-friendly guidebook that utilities and municipalities can use in deciding whether an integrated plan is right for their community. Additionally, a webcast highlighting this work was held on October 29, 2019. Published by WRF. Online PDF. (2019)

Originally funded as WERF project SIWM9R14.