Sea-Level Rise Could Cause Problems for Septic Systems

Rising sea levels could cause problems for septic systems. Septic systems use leach fields that need to be fairly dry to work properly. As seas rise, they raise groundwater levels and can infiltrate leach fields in coastal areas.

About one in five households in the United States, or about 60 million households, depend on a septic system to eliminate waste. New England, where roughly half of homes rely on septic systems, and Florida, which is home to about 12% of the septic systems in the U.S., are high risk areas.

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