About NWLEPG
NWLEPG administers county environmental sanitary codes for onsite wastewater systems and private water wells, and provides water testing, permitting, inspections and technical help to residents, contractors and county officials.
Participating counties
- Cheyenne
- Gove
- Greeley
- Lane
- Logan
- Rawlins
- Scott
- Sheridan
- Sherman
- Thomas
- Trego
- Wallace
Group activities
- Develop and enforce Environmental Sanitary Codes for each county that address private wastewater systems and non-public water supplies.
- Provide educational programs that inform the general public about pollution sources that have the potential to contaminate groundwater.
- Coordinate activities with other agencies and programs working to protect water quality.
- Promote the collection and recycling of used oil, solid waste, and household hazardous waste in each county.
- Assist in the Public Water Supply (PWS), Wellhead Protection (WHP), and WRAPS Programs.
The Local Environmental Protection Program
The Local Environmental Protection Program, established in 1990, provided funding to enable local authorities to develop water protection plans that complemented other water quality efforts being waged by state and federal agencies. At the core of each plan was the adoption and enforcement of county environmental codes with an emphasis on onsite wastewater systems (OWWS) and private water wells (PWW). These plans were also designed to cover broader responsibilities including the management of county-wide water and wastewater, subdivision water and wastewater, NPS pollution, sanitary landfill planning, and public water supply protection. Between 1990 and 2012, 103 counties adopted environmental codes that meet the standards outlined in KDHE Bulletin 4-2, Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems.
In 2012, funding was discontinued for this program. KDHE Watershed Management Section continues to support the LEPP by providing technical assistance to counties. The LEPPs are the primary point of contact for a wide range of services governed by county sanitary codes, state regulations, and federal regulations, including:
- OWWS permitting and preliminary and final inspections to verify minimum county sanitary codes and state standards are met.
- Providing the technical oversight to assist County Conservation District (CCD) offices with the cost-share program for failing OWWS.
- Licensing of OWWS installers and septage pumpers.
- Ensuring PWW are properly sited prior to installation.
- Conducting inspections of OWWS and PWW that serve foster care homes and daycare facilities as required by current KDHE regulations.
- Responding to environmental complaints and conducting follow-up investigations for failing OWWS, PWW, and illegal dumpsites that may include collaboration with KDHE.
- Providing education and technical assistance to elected officials and county residents.
- Maintaining databases of OWWS permits and inspections for present and future reference.
- Conducting inspections of OWWS and PWW when required for a real estate transaction.
Groundwater pollution sources
- Abandoned water wells*
- Ag chemical storage & usage
- Chemigation
- Grain storage & treatment
- Lawn & garden products
- Urban runoff
- Cross connections
- Back siphoning
- Landfills
- Road deicing
- On-site wastewater systems
- Sewage lagoons
- Feedlots
- Injection wells
- Underground fuel storage tanks
- Oil & gas production
- Improper trash dumping
- Industrial sites
- Soil erosion
* Abandoned wells are a direct route allowing surface contaminants to reach the groundwater, as well as a safety hazard to people, especially children. For information on how to properly plug abandoned wells, contact the NWLEPG office.