Compliance and Annual Biosolids Reporting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency works with federal, state and Tribal regulatory partners to monitor and ensure compliance with clean water laws and regulations in order to protect human health and the environment. The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law governing water pollution.

In accordance Part 503, biosolids pollutant monitoring and management information is summarized in a report (the “biosolids annual report”) and submitted each year to either the EPA or state. Currently, reports are submitted to EPA from the 41 states where the EPA implements the federal Biosolids Program. There currently are nine states (Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin) which are authorized through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program NPDES to be the permitting authority for biosolids. The EPA will transition to electronic reporting for the remaining authorized states as part of Phase 2 implementation of the NPDES eRule by December 2025. For more information on authorization visit the link: NPDES State Program Authorization Information.

Per Part 503, annual reports are required to be submitted by the larger treatment works that land apply, incinerate, or surface dispose of their sewage sludge. These larger facilities are 1) major publicly owned treatment works (POTWS) (POTWs with a design flow rate greater than or equal to one million gallons per day); 2) POTWs that serve 10,000 people; 3) Class I sludge management facilities (treatment works that have an approved pretreatment program or have been classified as Class I sludge management facilities by the EPA or state); or 4) are otherwise required to report by the EPA or permitting authority. The EPA does not receive data from smaller facilities or those that use or dispose of their sewage sludge using alternate management practices (like landfilling).

For more information on electronic reporting, visit the links:

General Information on NPDES Electronic Reporting
Submitting a Biosolids Annual Report:

In 2023, the EPA updated the biosolids annual report to streamline the reporting requirements when treatment works transfer their sewage sludge to another facility for further treatment or incineration. This change applies to treatment works transfer their sewage sludge to another facility that is also required so submit an annual report. For a list of Class I sludge management facilities visit the link:

List of Class I Sludge Management Facilities (pdf) (122.2 KB)