Background Information about Alabama Rural Waste Water Inequality

The Alabama Black Belt, Lowndes County, Wilcox County, and Perry County are rural populations that have long-term inequities in wastewater infrastructure, which pose a risk to the environment and social equity, and well-being. Most of the families are left to use collapsing septic systems or straight pipe discharges, where they are more exposed to diseases like hookworm or slightly polluted groundwater. There have been partial governmental efforts, such as those of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation, and federal funding, or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that are underfunded and not in line with the rural needs. This policy brief suggests that a Rural Wastewater Equity Program should be created that focuses on decentralized/cluster wastewater systems and specific household septic upgrades, with the help of technical assistance and community partnerships. This synergistic solution is cost-effective, sustainable, and equitable to address the historical infrastructure inequities and enhance the health and environmental outcomes of the people.