More than one-third of homes in parts of the Southeast rely on septic systems, but decentralized wastewater infrastructure is underfunded, aging, and poorly maintained, leading the systems to fail, pollute public waterways, and pose a health hazard. 

Krista Capps, Associate Director of the River Basin Center, recently brought together experts from across Northeast Georgia who work in different fields related to wastewater infrastructure to discuss current research, policy, and funding needs, future challenges, and potential solutions to emerging problems.

Sixteen people represented water professionals from six counties/regions across Georgia, as well as one person from the state Department of Public Health and one from a national manufacturer of onsite wastewater systems. The group represented county and municipal utilities, departments of sustainability, non-profit organizations, and regional planning commissions, as well as researchers and onsite wastewater treatment system sanitation professionals (“pumpers and haulers”). 

“This meeting linking practitioners, researchers, NGOs, and government agencies, brought together practical experience, scientific insight, and policy tools to identify problems, share data, and begin developing solutions to address problems associated with decentralized infrastructure in Georgia,” said Capps, who is also an associate professor at the Odum School of Ecology.

More than one-third of Georgia households use septic systems to dispose of waste, yet local governments rely on outdated research and a patchwork of regulations to help residents manage those systems.

“This forum uniting practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and service providers has laid the groundwork for an interdisciplinary approach to decentralized wastewater management that will support us in safeguarding Georgia’s waterways and public health, potentially serving as a model for communities across the United States facing these challenges,” she said.

The meeting was funded through a seed grant that was awarded to Capps through the University of Georgia’s faculty rural engagement program.