Investing in America’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Equity and Sustainability

Ensuring that all US households have access to proper sanitation and clean water will require a realignment of resources and investment, not only for centralized wastewater treatment systems but for decentralized ones too.

To ensure equity and sustainability for onsite wastewater treatment systems, we need to drive more investment in these systems, especially in unincorporated, disadvantaged, and other disinvested communities across the country.

This report takes a look at some of the issues facing failing onsite systems, provides an overview of potential funding solutions with local and state-level examples and case studies, and makes key recommendations on how to ensure more resources reach the households who need them.