People use clean water in the kitchen, laundry, and bathroom, which becomes wastewater. In urban areas, sewer systems carry the wastewater to centralized treatment facilities, but for millions of North Carolinians, treatment occurs in their own backyards. The private citizens who operate most of these backyard facilities often lack the knowledge and experience to maintain them properly. When the facilities fail, they pose unique challenges to human and environmental health, not only on that property but also to the broader community.
This article presents data on the extent of “on-site” (decentralized) wastewater treatment facilities in North Carolina. It outlines some challenges inherent in operating, managing, and funding on-site systems and examines several local and regional initiatives to expand funding options and implement management programs.
