Four key organizations involved in wastewater have collaborated to produce the 34-page "Core Attributes of Effectively Managed Wastewater Collection Systems," a document that promotes good engineering practices essential to managing and operating separate sanitary collection systems.

The project was a joint effort of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Amercian Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Public Works Association.

The organizations say the document is the first nationally recognized set of practices and core attributes for effectively managing sanitary sewer systems. They recognized the challenges associated with the lack of clear federal guidelines on how best to minimize overflows and their impact on the water environment.

The collaborators called on a broad group of industry stakeholders to help identify the core issues and best management practices. The document is available for download at www.nacwa.org/coreattributes.