Pathogen Equivalency Committee
Created by the EPA in 1985, the Pathogen Equivalency Committee (PEC) is a federally sponsored technical group that provides technical assistance and recommendations on process equivalencies for pathogen reduction in sewage sludge to government and industry. This website provides guidance from the PEC for demonstrating the effectiveness of innovative and/or alternative sewage sludge disinfection processes for the purposes of receiving a recommendation of equivalency to a process that significantly or further reduces pathogens.
Information for potential PEC applicants: Before applying to the PEC for equivalency, please read the information below and get acquainted with the process.
In reviewing equivalency applications, the PEC ensure that new processes employed for sewage sludge treatment are robust and effective in pathogen reduction. The PEC reviews and makes recommendations to relevant federal and/or state permitting authorities on the merits of applications proposing new innovative or alternative sewage sludge pathogen reduction processes are equivalent to the processes currently listed in the 40 CFR Part 503, Subpart D, regulation.
- Basic information: Pathogen Equivalency Committee
- Introduction
- What is the Pathogen Equivalency Committee
- What are Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRPs) and Processes to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs)?
- I have developed or have an idea for a new treatment process and would like to get equivalency. How do I get started?
- How can a process receive a national vs. site-specific equivalency recommendation?
- What are fecal coliform, Salmonella spp., enteric viruses, and helminth ova and why were they chosen to demonstrate equivalency?
A quality assurance project plan (QAPP) should be developed before beginning testing so that the desired quality in sample collection, laboratory analysis, data validation and reporting, as well as documentation and record keeping is achieved and maintained.
You may read about examples of companies and products that have received equivalency related to processes to significantly reduce pathogens and processes to further reduce pathogens.