This manual presents standard procedures for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System inspections of wastewater treatment plants, pretreatment facilities, and other sites.

• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (PDF)(918 pp, 17 MB, January 2017, 305-K-17-001)
• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual without Appendices (PDF)(526 pp, 7 MB)
• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Cover - Chapter 10) (PDF)(250 pp, 3 MB)
• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Chapters 11 - 19) (PDF)(296 pp, 4 MB)
• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Appendices A - AC) (PDF)(181 pp, 7 MB)
• NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual (Appendices AD - AR) (PDF)(224 pp, 4 MB)
• Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF)(24 pp, 771 K)
• Chapter 2 - Inspection Procedures (PDF)(34 pp, 530 K)
• Chapter 3 - Documentation/Recordkeeping and Reporting (PDF)(13 pp, 350 K)
• Chapter 4 - Facility Site Review - Wastewater Treatment Plants (PDF)(30 pp, 536 K)
• Chapter 5 - Sampling (PDF)(20 pp, 431 K)
• Chapter 6 - Flow Measurement (PDF)(17 pp, 427 K)
• Chapter 7 - Laboratory Procedures and Quality Assurance (PDF)(15 pp, 405 K)
• Chapter 8 - Toxicity (PDF)(26 pp, 473 K)
• Chapter 9 - Pretreatment (PDF)(25 pp, 504 K)
• Chapter 10 - Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) (PDF)(39 pp, 576 K)
• Chapter 11 - Stormwater (PDF)(48 pp, 669 K)
• Chapter 12 - Combined Sewer Overflows (PDF)(16 pp, 373 K)
• Chapter 13 - Sanitary Sewer Overflows (PDF)(13 pp, 373 K)
• Chapter 14 - Inspecting Green Infrastructure Controls (PDF)(32 pp, 1 MB)
• Chapter 15 - CAFO Program Inspections (PDF)(92 pp, 2 MB)
• Chapter 16 - Vessel General permit (VGP) (PDF)(43 pp, 802 K)
• Chapter 17 - Pollution Prevention (PDF)(24 pp, 629 K)
• Chapter 18 - Multimedia Concerns (PDF)(11 pp, 307 K)
• Chapter 19 - Appearing as a Witness (PDF)(9 pp, 252 K)
• Appendix A – EPA Order 3500.1, Training and Development for Individuals who lead Compliance Inspections/Field Investigations (PDF)(15 pp, 284 K)
• Appendix B – EPA Order 3510, EPA Federal Credentials for Inspections and Enforcement of Environmental Statutes (PDF)(2 pp, 169 K)
• Appendix C – EPA Order 1440.2, Health and Safety Requirements for Employees Engaged in Field Activities (PDF)(11 pp, 274 K)
• Appendix D – EPA’s Memorandum on Practices to Follow and Avoid when Requesting Information (PDF)(5 pp, 302 K)
• Appendix E – Sample CWA Section 308 Information Collection Request Letter (308 Letter) (PDF)(8 pp, 255 K)
• Appendix F – Final Fact Sheet: The Do’s and Don’ts of Using U.S. EPA Credentials (PDF)(8 pp, 290 K)
• Appendix G - EPA's Memorandum On Entry Procedures (PDF)(11 pp, 221 K)
• Digital Image Guidance for EPA Civil Inspections and Investigations (PDF)(33 pp, 702 K, June 2017, OECA-GUID-2017-001-R1)
• Appendix I – EPA's Memorandum On Deficiency Notice Guidance (PDF)(7 pp, 193 K)
• Appendix J – Inspection Conclusion Data Summary (ICDS) (PDF)(3 pp, 243 K)
• Appendix K – Draft Guidance for Releasing Civil Inspection Reports (PDF)(3 pp, 170 K)
• Appendix L – Sample Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Form (PDF)(3 pp, 231 K)
• Appendix M – Example Chain-of-Custody Form (PDF)(3 pp, 155 K)
• Appendix N – Updated Fact Sheet: Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials (PDF)(5 pp, 225 K)
• Appendix O – Supplemental Flow Measurement Information (PDF)(28 pp, 1 MB)
• Appendix P – Sludge Inspection Checklists (PDF)(15 pp, 393 K)
• Appendix Q – No Exposure Certification Form (PDF)(6 pp, 3 MB)
• Appendix R – NPDES Industrial Storm Water Investigation and Case Development (Industrial) (PDF)(12 pp, 330 K)
• Appendix S – Industrial Source Control BMP Questions (PDF)(6 pp, 200 K)
• Appendix T – Notice of Termination for Stormwater (PDF)(4 pp, 718 K)
• Appendix U – Typical "C" Coefficients (PDF)(3 pp, 215 K)
• Appendix V – Rain Zones of the United States (PDF)(3 pp, 405 K)
• Appendix W – NOAA Rainfall Worksheet (PDF)(3 pp, 166 K)
• Appendix X – NPDES Industrial Storm Water Investigation and Case Development (Construction) (PDF)(15 pp, 315 K)
• Appendix Y – Construction Source Control BMP Questions (PDF)(5 pp, 181 K)
• Appendix Z – Infiltration Control Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 233 K)
• Appendix AA – Permeable Pavements Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 255 K)
• Appendix AB – Rainwater Harvest Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 227 K)
• Appendix AC – Green Roof Inspection Form (PDF)(4 pp, 224 K)
• Appendix AD – Animal Industry Overview (PDF)(27 pp, 2 MB)
• Appendix AE – Management/Soil Science (PDF)(8 pp, 896 K)
• Appendix AF – Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Biosecurity Procedures for Visits to Livestock and Poultry Facilities (PDF)(12 pp, 261 K)
• Appendix AG – Field and Personal Protective Equipment (PDF)(4 pp, 217 K)
• Appendix AH – Mapping Tool (Region 5) (PDF)(6 pp, 197 K)
• Appendix AI – Sample Permitted CAFO Inspection Checklist (PDF)(15 pp, 327 K)
• Appendix AJ – Regional Inspections Checklists (PDF)(21 pp, 423 K)
• Appendix AK – Growth Stages of Common Field Crops (PDF)(5 pp, 349 K)
• Appendix AL – Inspection Introduction Letter (PDF)(5 pp, 453 K)
• Appendix AM – Sampling Procedures and Equipment (PDF)(8 pp, 242 K)
• Appendix AN – Sample Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (PDF)(39 pp, 473 K)
• Appendix AO – Detailed Review of Nutrient Management Plan Implementation (PDF)(18 pp, 406 K)
• Appendix AP – Inspection Report Template (R7) (PDF)(12 pp, 299 K)
• Appendix AQ – Media-Specific Inspection Components (PDF)(28 pp, 383 K)
• Appendix AR – National Multimedia Screening Inspection Worksheet (PDF)(20 pp, 215 K)