40 CFR § 503.15 - Operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s503.15"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 503.15 - Operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "503.15"
section_name: "Operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "O"
subchapter_name: "SEWAGE SLUDGE"
part_number: "503"
part_name: "STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Sections 405 (d) and (e) of the Clean Water Act, as amended by Pub. L. 95-217, sec. 54(d), 91 Stat. 1591 (33 U.S.C. 1345 (d) and (e)); and Pub. L. 100-4, title IV, sec. 406 (a), (b), 101 Stat., 71, 72 (33 U.S.C. 1251 )."
regulatory_source: "58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "503"
---


# 503.15 Operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction.

(a) *Pathogens—sewage sludge.* (1) The Class A pathogen requirements in § 503.32(a) or the Class B pathogen requirements and site restrictions in § 503.32(b) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site.

(2) The Class A pathogen requirements in § 503.32(a) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to a lawn or a home garden.

(3) The Class A pathogen requirements in § 503.32(a) shall be met when sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(b) *Pathogens—domestic septage.* The requirements in either § 503.32 (c)(1) or (c)(2) shall be met when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site.

(c) *Vector attraction reduction—sewage sludge.* (1) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in § 503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(10) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site.

(2) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in § 503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to a lawn or a home garden.

(3) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in § 503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) shall be met when sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(d) *Vector attraction reduction—domestic septage.* The vector attraction reduction requirements in § 503.33(b)(9), (b)(10), or (b)(12) shall be met when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site.