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2022 CWNS Data

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Clean Watersheds Needs Survey Data Dashboard

About

The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey compiles data on existing clean water infrastructure and the need for future investment to address the water quality objectives of the Clean Water Act (CWA) over the next 20 years. These data represent a nationwide picture of clean water infrastructure across four categories - wastewater, stormwater, decentralized wastewater treatment, and nonpoint source control.

The 2022 CWNS is the 17th survey since the CWA was enacted in 1972 and is required by CWA Sections 609 and 516(b)(1)(B). It was administered to all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories (collectively referred to as “states”) over a 14-month period from March 1, 2022, through May 3, 2023. As directed by Congress under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, the EPA collected projects and associated capital costs (also known as “needs”) for all projects eligible for Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans.

The previous CWNS occurred in 2012. Further information about the 2012 CWNS can be found in the 2012 Report to Congress.

This data dashboard provides a visual summary of the data presented in the 2022 CWNS Report to Congress; the underlying data is also available for download. These data represent a snapshot in time as of January 1, 2022.

  • Needs Dashboard

    Summarizes the needs (projects and associated capital costs) reported by each state in January 2022 dollars. The needs can be filtered by region, state, infrastructure type, and CWNS category.

    Go to Needs Dashboard
    Magnifying-Glass

  • Wastewater Dashboard

    Displays the nation's Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) and associated technical data, including effluent treatment level, flow, discharge type, and population served.

    Go to Wastewater Dashboard
    Blue-Pipes

  • Areas Related to Needs Map

    Displays the sum of reported needs for counties, congressional districts, and watersheds. Allows users to overlay environmental and socioeconomic maps on top of CWNS needs data.

    Go to Areas Related to Needs Map
    Mountain-Lake

Data Considerations

Data that are included in the CWNS were collected by state coordinators and their teams on a voluntary basis. For each submission, they reported needs ($) and technical data - such as wastewater or stormwater flow, population served, discharge type, and effluent treatment level. The reliability and availability of technical data for individual submissions to the CWNS varies and has not been independently verified by the EPA. As participation was voluntary and required documentation of needs, not all eligible investments are captured in the survey. For more information on data collection and survey protocol, see the 2022 CWNS Detailed Scope and Methods. Although the 2022 CWNS represents the most comprehensive and robust report on clean water infrastructure needs in the United States, the overall need likely underestimates the true nationwide need.

Appropriate Uses

The 2022 CWNS data provide a snapshot in time for use by Congress and state legislatures in their budgeting efforts. The data can also be used to help measure environmental progress, contribute to academic research, provide information to the public, and help local and state governments implement water quality programs. The data should not be used for compliance purposes nor be interpreted as a complete accounting of all SRF-eligible needs. Inclusion in the Report to Congress does not suggest that funding from local, state, or federal sources is not available and should not be construed as request for additional federal funding.

Resources

The CWNS data dashboard summarizes data in 2022 CWNS Report to Congress; the underlying data is also available for download. These data represent a snapshot in time as of January 1, 2022. For questions, contact us at: https://www.epa.gov/cwns/forms/contact-us-about-clean-watershed-needs-survey

2022 Report to Congress and Scope and Methods
Data Dictionary
Needs Categories