Across much of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, decentralized septic systems are reaching a breaking point in large part due to climate stressors. In rural and coastal communities, decentralized septic systems that were once considered a reliable and affordable form of household wastewater management are increasingly failing under the combined pressures of age, saturated soils from more intense rainfall and storm flooding, and the impacts of sea-level rise on groundwater levels. Rising groundwater levels reduce the vertical separation needed for proper septic system functioning, and the more intense rainfall and storm-driven flooding saturates drain fields and increases the frequency of system overloads. Sea-level rise also compounds these pressures by pushing salt water into shallow groundwater aquifers, further undermining thousands of systems that were once marginally viable. Without intervention, these stressors will continue to expand the impact of septic failures, turning localized breakdowns into chronic regional problems.
Historically underserved communities rely disproportionately on private wells and septic systems, yet they are least able to absorb the financial burden of repairs or conversions and are frequently excluded from infrastructure planning processes that shape investment decisions. Governance of septic systems is fragmented, with state health departments maintaining only partial records, local agencies managing permits, and no single entity accountable for coordinated adaptation. Left unchecked, climate-driven stressors will magnify these vulnerabilities, transforming what has long been treated as a private household problem into a systemic resilience challenge for entire regions. This project seeks to address this challenge through more than technical fixes. These researchers will develop an integrated approach that links hydrologic science, engineering, public health, social science, and community engagement.
