Panelists Discuss Inequities in Rural Wastewater Infrastructure and Steps to Fix It
By Sion Calabretta
The Environmental Policy Innovation Center hosted the webinar, Equitable Wastewater Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Rural Communities, on March 24, 2022. The webinar focused on onsite wastewater treatment systems or “septic systems” that are commonly used to treat wastewater in urban and rural properties across the US. Poorly functioning or failing septic systems are a threat to public health and the environment, and are making homes unlivable across the US. However, not all property owners can afford to repair or replace these systems on their own as they can be fairly expensive.
This webinar brought together advocates, policy makers, and community leaders working on the frontlines to address inequities in access to affordable and environmentally sound wastewater infrastructure. Our panelists included Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney at the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (LCJA); Willie Morgan, South Carolina State Manager for Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project; Colleen Neely, ORISE Fellow at EPA Decentralized Wastewater Program; Julie Waechter, Chief Program Officer at DigDeep and Sophie Young, Program Manager at California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). Each of the speakers offered insights on federal programs, state and local financing, regulations, case studies and other public health and economic development factors at play in ensuring disadvantaged rural communities have access to wastewater infrastructure. The discussion was moderated by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center with Sri Vedachalam.
Julie Waechter began the webinar with a comprehensive overview of the magnitude of disparities in access to wastewater infrastructure. More than two million Americans lack access to basic plumbing, and of the ones that do, decentralized systems account for 20-25 percent of all wastewater systems in the nation. There's an $81 billion gap in funding for critical water and wastewater infrastructure. DigDeep’s approach to solving these inequities is through community-led and community-centered solutions. DigDeep looks to the root causes, investing in long term relationships and building equitable community-led solutions.
Willie Morgan offered a more contextualized look at septic systems, with a focus on the South, especially in his home state of South Carolina. In the South, it is common for septic systems to fail because the simple design does not work well in the various soil types (many of which are heavy in clay) in states like South Carolina. When systems fail, they cost anywhere from $2,600 to $40,000 to repair. Willie humanized the issue with photos of children playing in neighborhoods with untreated sewage seeping into the streets. SERCAP helps people access funding sources such as State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and USDA Rural Development to ensure children don't have to grow up in houses and neighborhoods contaminated with sewage.
Micheal Claiborne shared case studies from California and policy recommendations developed by Leadership Counsel. Oasis Mobile Home Park in eastern Coachella Valley is a community of over 1000 served by 90 septic systems. With such close proximity and limited funding, systems often fail there, exposing people to hazardous pathogens. Lanare, an older, low-income community in Fresno County, also experiences failing septic systems. Leadership Counsel is looking to help Lanare by connecting the community to a central sewer system. Leadership Counsel is advocating for policy bills SB 1215 and SB 222 in the legislature as well as providing greater authority and funding to the State Water Resources Control Board – these measures will provide funding for decentralized wastewater systems repairs, replacements and upgrades.
Sophie Young’s work at California’s Strategic Growth Council (SGC) takes a climate resilience investment perspective. SGC is looking to invest $230 million of state funding into disadvantaged communities in California. With a combination of creating representative data and centering the needs of disadvantaged communities, SGC is working toward a pilot framework to provide funding for wastewater infrastructure to communities that most need it.
Colleen Neely provided a broader look at policy implications of federal funding. EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater Program recently published a report to congress on The Prevalence Throughout the U.S. of Low- and Moderate-Income Households Without Access to a Treatment Works. The report showcases how federal dollars are currently being spent on decentralized wastewater infrastructure in the US. They found that 75% of funds are going to 5 states and only 26 states have access to federal funding for decentralized wastewater systems. Colleen emphasized the need for more data to align funding with communities in need.
The webinar concluded with a robust Q&A session from the audience touching on cesspools, funding programs, how mobile home parks can access funding, inequities within centralized wastewater and state funding for private uses. Joachim Schneider from WAI and Jeff Nejedly from the Washington Department of Ecology chimed into the discussion sharing their perspectives and work in Hawaii and Washington State, respectively.
The webinar was well-attended, with 190 individuals representing federal, state, and local agencies as well as researchers, policy and community advocates listening in. Attendees were deeply engaged in the discussion, asking insightful questions and sharing their experiences, work and perspectives in the online chat. Thank you so much to our panelists for taking the time to share their work with us and the professional community and for their full-hearted commitment to helping all people gain access to equitable wastewater infrastructure.
The recording can be viewed on our youtube here.