Nearly one in five U.S. households relies on on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), including septic systems and cesspools, to manage wastewater. Yet many of these systems were never designed to remove pollutants such as nitrogen, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics before they reach groundwater, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. As climate change, sea-level rise, and coastal development place increasing pressure on aging infrastructure, communities face growing risks to both environmental and public health.
A new report from The Nature Conservancy - Upgrading On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems for Environmental Protection: Policies, Practices, and Pathways Forward - explores how policy, financing, science, and community engagement are critical components to accelerating wastewater solutions and reducing nutrient pollution across the United States.
The report highlights a challenge that extends far beyond individual properties. Excess nutrients from failing or outdated wastewater systems contribute to harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, shellfish losses, coral reef impacts, and declining water quality in many communities. At the same time, upgrading wastewater systems presents an opportunity to improve public health, create jobs, strengthen local economies, and protect some of our most valuable aquatic ecosystems.
Drawing on interviews with conservation practitioners, policy experts, and specialists in nature-based solutions for sanitation, the report examines four case studies from New York, Massachusetts, Arizona and Hawai’i that demonstrate different pathways to progress. A central finding of the report is that successful wastewater solutions require more than technology alone. Communities that have made significant progress have combined strong science, strategic communications, coalition building, dedicated funding mechanisms, and policy leadership to create lasting change.
The report also identifies several priority actions to accelerate adoption of improved wastewater solutions, including strengthening local coalitions, leveraging diverse funding sources, advancing nature-based solutions, streamlining permitting processes, building public support, and investing in long-term policy engagement. Importantly, the report emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Strategies must be tailored to local environmental conditions, governance structures, and community priorities. However, the experiences documented across the four case studies demonstrate that meaningful improvements are achievable when stakeholders align around shared goals and invest in long-term implementation.
Join the Conversation
To explore these findings in greater depth, The Nature Conservancy will host a webinar featuring report author Ariel Paulk and case study contributors Emma Gildesgame, Kevin McDonald, and Paul Sturm.
The discussion will examine lessons learned from across the United States, highlight examples of successful financing and policy approaches, and explore how communities can accelerate progress toward cleaner water and healthier coastal ecosystems.
Register today to learn how wastewater policy and investment can drive meaningful environmental outcomes while delivering benefits for people, communities, and nature: https://tnc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_raCVsSmCQr24k6SQ2xnodw
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