Press Spotlight: Rising Seas Threaten Septic Systems

Michael O'Driscoll and Colleagues Highlight the Environmental and Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Washington Post

In a recent Washington Post interview, our Water Resources Center Associate Director Michael O’Driscoll discussed the alarming impact of rising water tables due to climate change on septic systems.

This rise poses significant risks, including potential drinking water contamination and increased maintenance costs for homeowners. O’Driscoll’s research, conducted alongside Charlie Humphrey (ECU Environmental Health Sciences), Guy Iverson (ECU Environmental Health Sciences), Jane Harrison (NC Sea Grant), and Jared Bowden (NC State Climate Office), underscores the vulnerability of coastal and low-lying inland communities and emphasizes the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and policy reforms.

Please click on the picture below or follow this link to be redirected to the full article.