a need for the network
Facilities in the U.S. that discharge wastewater are required to submit Discharge Monitoring
Reports (DMRs) to their state regulatory agencies. These DMRs summarize the quantity and
quality of the wastewater and allow regulators to track a facility’s compliance with its discharge
permits. Monthly submissions make DMRs one of the nation’s largest reporting requirements,
second only to tax reporting.
Like many states, Michigan had to collect DMR data from facilities by mail, manually input
the data into its own data systems, and then enter that same data into the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Permit Compliance System to meet its reporting
requirements. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) identified several
problems and inefficiencies in its paper-based DMR submission process.
- Paper DMRs required manual data entry that was labor intensive and costly.
- Daily wastewater reports had accrued a three-year backlog.
- Duplicative data entry into separate State and Federal systems was time consuming
and subject to keying errors.
- Decision makers did not have access to timely or accurate wastewater discharge data.
With increasingly scarce resources and a high demand for quality data, the Michigan DEQ
needed a better way of doing business.
an exchange network solution
Michigan found its answer by combining an innovative e-government solution with the
Exchange Network. In the spring of 2003, the Michigan DEQ launched an electronic data
collection system called E2. This system allows regulated facilities to upload their e-DMRs
through the state’s web site. Users can manually enter data on a web entry form, copy and
paste their data from an existing spreadsheet, or upload an eXtensible Markup Language
(XML) file to the E2 secure electronic reporting database.
Data from E2 is captured and sent via XML to the Michigan National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) Management System (NMS). Using XML and web services,
Michigan can automatically send its DMR data from NMS to EPA’s Permit Compliance System,
thereby fulfilling its reporting requirements.
seeing results
Today, Michigan is recognized by the U.S. EPA and by other states as having one of
the most advanced and efficient electronic wastewater reporting systems in the country.
The system is already saving money for the state and regulated facilities and providing
managers and analysts with the high quality data they need to make sound decisions for our
environment.
After the first 22 months, more than 40% of Michigan facilities were reporting electronically
and this data was automatically sent to the U.S. EPA via the Exchange Network. Michigan
projects that it is saving between $250,000 and $500,000 annually as a result of the e-DMR
project. Members of the state’s regulatory staff no longer need to manually enter data into
multiple information systems. This has dramatically reduced labor costs and eliminated the
need to correct inconsistencies stemming from data entry errors.
Regulated facilities are also enjoying a cost savings as a result of the project. Michigan
estimates the annual savings for wastewater facilities that use electronic reporting at $2,000
per facility, or $2.5 million statewide. With all of these new effi ciencies, Michigan anticipates
a full return on its investment in just three to four years with full facility participation.
As electronic reporting and XML technology have replaced other outmoded methods
for exchanging data, the level of access to high quality data has improved dramatically.
Michigan eliminated its three-year DMR backlog in the first 18 months of the e-DMR
project. Information that once took months to reach analysts is now available in nearly real
time. Using the infrastructure of the Exchange Network also ensures that the data are not
only more accessible but of a higher quality. Data are entered once and then transferred
automatically and consistently from system to system. Better data helps Michigan and the
U.S. EPA make better decisions to protect our environment.
learn more
To learn more about Michigan’s e-DMR effort, contact:
Michael Beaulac
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
(517) 241-7808
beaulacm@michigan.gov
You can also view this narrated presentation which describes the electronic Discharge Monitoring Reporting process in greater detail.
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