A flooded property on Windmill Point in Lancaster County with a mound septic system, circled in red, in October 2021. (Photo courtesy of John Bateman via Wetlands Watch)
As more intense rainfall has allowed pollution to flow into the James River through Richmond’s overwhelmed city sewer system, the state has introduced draft proposals for septic systems used in more rural areas, to tackle another aspect of climate change that impacts pollution controls: rising sea and groundwater levels.
Last month, Virginia began its early discussion on draft regulations for septic systems, which are a typical method of treating waste in areas not privy to public infrastructure, as part of a 20-year regulatory review that kicked off in 2022 .
At the time of opening up the regulations for review, there were about 1.1 million septic systems in Virginia.
A majority of the systems are conventional, meaning wastewater from a residence is sent to a tank on the property before it is filtered through a distribution box that sends it throughout the property. The waste eventually breaks down as it is dispersed into the environment.