The Impact of Climate Change on Massachusetts Septic Systems

Climate Change + Population Increase = Imbalance in the Waterways of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

The old septic systems used by about 95% of the growing population of Cape Cod are contributing to rising nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the waterways which are slowly warming due to climate change. Septic systems are a great option in places where homes are too spread out to justify sewers and water treatment plants but they don’t filter out the nitrogen and phosphorus that ends up seeping into groundwater. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the water, they act as a fertilizer for bacteria and algae. This combination of factors has resulted in an “explosion” of blue-green algae to take over the Cape and wreak havoc on the ecosystem.

After several lawsuits filed by environmentalists, the state of Massachusetts has proposed that local communities are required to fix the problem within 20 years. This has created some pushback from the community of Mashpee, MA that has already started installing a sewer system, the construction of which was projected to be spread out over 25 years. If the proposed rule is enforced, that would force the community to move faster and find a way to cover the huge cost of construction. This raises the issue of cost in general since sewers and water treatment plants are extremely expensive for the community and new septic systems can be a huge expense to the individual homeowners in the area, many of whom are retired and living on fixed incomes.

How this plays out in Massachusetts will be viewed by other states in the future as they seek to address similar surface water quality issues in areas with a high density of decentralized wastewater treatment. 

For more information concerning Nutrient Runoff from Septic Systems check out some of the following resources:

• Septic Systems and Surface Water
  • This interactive graphic and diagram explains how nutrients and pathogens from your septic system may impact streams, lakes, or other water bodies near your home.
• Nutrients from septic systems can impact well and surface water
  • This article goes into detail about the impact a malfunctioning septic system has on the surrounding waterways, wells, and groundwater. 
• How Nitrogen from Septic Systems Can Harm Water Quality
  • This 2-page fact sheet describes how nitrogen can affect the soil and water in the areas surrounding your septic system. 

For more information concerning Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) check out some of the following resources from WaterOperator.org:

• Addressing HABs and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
  • This 4-page fact sheet describes DWSRF eligibilities related HABS. It provides several case studies where DWSRF funds were used for HABs related activities.
• Algae/Cyanobacteria Toxins and Public Water Systems
  • This 31-slide presentation discusses how to understand the problem, know what tools are available, and plan how to manage a cyanotoxin event.
• Algal Toxin Risk Assessment and Management Strategic Plan for Drinking Water
  • This 81-page report is a strategic plan for assessing and managing risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water provided by public water systems. This plan presents examples of recently completed and ongoing HAB-related activities and provides steps and timelines for intended future EPA activities. These ongoing and future activities outline EPA’s plan for the next few months through the next five years and beyond.

Septic Systems 101 Training

Through our sister program at PrivateWellClass.org, our team hosts monthly webinars. Each year the most popular training in Septic Systems 101. Below you'll find a recording of the most recent training, held in August 2022. Topics include:

• What is safe to flush down a drain?
• Do you need to put additives in your septic tank?
• How can you prolong the life of your system?

Decentralized Wastewater Infrastructure Challenges in the Alabama Black Belt

A quarter of Americans rely on decentralized wastewater systems, including septic tanks, because they are too far away from municipal sewers or the local environment cannot support a wastewater treatment plant.

Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities can offer economic and environmental benefits to a community, but they can also be dangerous to public health and the local ecosystem if they are not designed properly.

In the Black Belt region of Central Alabama, the rural landscape and heavy clay soils make it difficult to establish a traditional wastewater facility. These communities have struggled with wastewater management for years and the U.S. EPA (with many partners) has been working to help develop long-term solutions.

Impermeable soil, high rates of poverty, and no sewer access can result in difficult choices. Some communities in this region use straight pipes to carry wastewater to a nearby location like a ditch or woods, where residents can then be exposed to raw sewage.

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems can use a variety of different approaches to process a community’s wastewater, but there are also financial and managerial solutions that can be explored. Responsibilities can be better distributed and organized with community leadership. Individuals who attend community meetings and communicate with their state and local government officials are more likely to have their voice heard. 

The newly passed infrastructure bill is set to contribute $150 million in decentralized household grants over five years to help low-income homeowners construct or repair failing septic systems. Investments are also needed in cost-effective treatment technologies and innovative approaches to help municipal wastewater systems reach rural communities. 

Dig Deep, an organization that helps bring running water and adequate sanitation to communities across the United States, created a decentralized wastewater innovation cohort to help connect rural communities with innovative solutions. 

The Alabama Black Belt is just one of many regions of the United States that are struggling, with a history of environmental injustice compounding logistical challenges. Roughly 2.2 million Americans across the United States still do not have running water or adequate sanitation. 

The information in this blog post was presented at a U.S. EPA webinar in May 2021. A recording is available to explore this topic in more depth: