Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap: A Comprehensive Wastewater Solutions Plan for the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona
The Ask: The San Carlos Apache Tribe conducted a septic survey which identified many homes on the Reservation with poorly functioning onsite systems or no sewer services at all. Through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap initiative, the Tribe’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sought technical assistance to address these known wastewater gaps by connecting residents to educational and financial resources.
The Solution: EPA engaged MDB’s project management, community engagement, and engineering support and decentralized wastewater expertise to help the Tribe develop a plan to address current and future wastewater issues. MDB worked extensively with the Tribal DEP to organize information on wastewater services. As community engagement was a key element to building trust, MDB planners and community engagement specialists made frequent visits to the Reservation, conducting site visits and delivering presentations to the Tribal Council.
Notable Outcomes: MDB developed a comprehensive wastewater treatment improvement plan and authored the Options for Clean Water Solutions for the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona. The wastewater treatment improvement plan provides recommendations for the onsite systems and improvements to the central sewer system as well as approaches for management, public education, and governance. It addresses the Tribe’s immediate sanitation system needs and includes recommendations for building a policy framework for sound management and sufficient financial resources. MDB also developed a wastewater management ordinance to help the Tribe prevent issues with septic system failures.
