Wastewater Treatment Works Compliance Maintenance Program

Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) Programs for Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems

View a mediasite presentation on "WHY CMOM"

Read Articles

"CMOM in Wisconsin" (April 2009)

"CMOM in Wisconsin  1. Goals" (June 2009)

"CMOM in Wisconsin  2. Organization" (September 2009)

"CMOM in Wisconsin  3. Legal Authority" (December 2009)

Preventing Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)

Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) of untreated wastewater can cause water quality degradation. Some SSOs occur because leaky sewers allow the infiltration and inflow of precipitation and groundwater. Sewers deteriorate over time and develop cracks, breaks, and blockages if not properly maintained. In response to the concern about sanitary sewer overflows, U.S. EPA has introduced the concept of a comprehensive Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program to reduce and prevent these types of discharges. The Department has begun to incorporate CMOM requirements into regulatory requirements for municipal sanitary sewer collection systems. A CMOM program achieves these primary objectives:

• Ensures that communities have adequate wastewater collection capacity.
• Improves the operation and performance of the municipal sanitary sewer collection system.
• Evaluates areas of excessive inflow of precipitation or groundwater into the system.
• Conducts maintenance and repairs needed to prevent problems.
• Reduces the frequency and occurrence of sewer overflows and basement backups.
• Provides more effective public notification when overflows do occur.

The eCMAR report requests information (Question #3 of the collection system section of the eCMAR ) about an optional CMOM program for sanitary sewer collection systems. Most Wisconsin communities, at this time, do not have a formal CMOM program. Having a CMOM Program is currently not a WPDES permit requirement, however, some communities have moved ahead with developing CMOM or similar programs voluntarily to more comprehensively manage their collection systems.

Proposed Rules for CMOM Programs

Neither U.S. EPA nor the Department has established rules that require creation or implementation of a CMOM program for collection systems. The Department is currently working on proposed rules concerning SSO's and CMOM programs, with proposed revisions to chs. NR 110 and NR 210, Wis. Adm. Code.

Information on CMOM Programs

For more information on the CMOM program, see this web site: http://www.cmom.net (exit DNR). For guidance on developing CMOM programs, see the CMOM Program Self Assessment Checklist and Guide for Evaluating CMOM Programs.

Operation and maintenance activities performed on sanitary sewer collection systems are an important part of an overall CMOM program. See References for other recommended resources for developing effective collection system operation and maintenance programs.

Although outside the scope of a CMOM program, municipal wastewater utilities should also consider security vulnerabilities. See Wastewater Security for information on Vulnerability Assessments and security measures for wastewater treatment systems.