---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6939"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6939"
heading: "Domestic sewage"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6939"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter III — Hazardous Waste Management"
---

# §6939. Domestic sewage

- (a) **Report—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall, not later than 15 months after November 8, 1984, submit a report to the Congress concerning those substances identified or listed under [section 6921 of this title](/usc/42/6921.md) which are not regulated under this subchapter by reason of the exclusion for mixtures of domestic sewage and other wastes that pass through a sewer system to a publicly owned [treatment](/usc/42/6903.md?p=34) works. Such report shall include the types, size and number of generators which dispose of such substances in this manner, the types and quantities disposed of in this manner, and the identification of significant generators, wastes, and waste constituents not regulated under existing Federal law or regulated in a manner sufficient to protect human health and the environment.
- (b) **Revisions of regulations—** Within eighteen months after submitting the report specified in [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall revise existing regulations and promulgate such additional regulations pursuant to this subchapter (or any other authority of the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1), including [section 1317 of title 33](/usc/33/1317.md)) as are necessary to assure that substances identified or listed under [section 6921 of this title](/usc/42/6921.md) which pass through a sewer system to a publicly owned [treatment](/usc/42/6903.md?p=34) works are adequately controlled to protect human health and the environment.
- (c) **Report on wastewater lagoons—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall, within thirty-six months after November 8, 1984, submit a report to Congress concerning wastewater lagoons at publicly owned [treatment](/usc/42/6903.md?p=34) works and their effect on groundwater quality. Such report shall include—
  - (1) the number and size of such lagoons;
  - (2) the types and quantities of waste contained in such lagoons;
  - (3) the extent to which such waste has been or may be released from such lagoons and contaminate ground water; and
  - (4) available alternatives for preventing or controlling such releases.

  The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may utilize the authority of sections [6927](/usc/42/6927.md) and [6934](/usc/42/6934.md) of this title for the purpose of completing such report.

- (d) **Application of sections 6927 and 6930—** The provisions of sections [6927](/usc/42/6927.md) and [6930](/usc/42/6930.md) of this title shall apply to solid or dissolved materials in domestic sewage to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to [hazardous waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=5).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 3018, as added Pub. L. 98–616, title II, § 246(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3264.)