Coastal South Carolina and similar low-lying areas are prone to failing septic systems because of shallow water table conditions. The best design standards and current regulations cannot overcome such site conditions, leading to wastewater discharge from the septic leach fields and pollution of groundwater and nearby receiving water bodies.
This research project will seek to understand the role of storm events, seasonal shallow groundwater dynamics, and sea level rise on septic and on-site wastewater treatment systems for representative soil types and landscape position. The research will also develop a geospatial risk assessment model that can characterize septic systems’ potential vulnerability to climate change impacts. Lastly, it will identify septic owners’ motivations for septic maintenance and their willingness to accept solutions that provide for long-term performance and water quality protection.
Products from this research project will include a community-level septic management strategy guide and climate change risk assessment tool, recommendations for updates that should be made for onsite wastewater permitting and design requirements, workforce development (training students in water resource management and hydrologic, geospatial, and social science), publication of educational materials, and journal publications of the work.