Decentralized and onsite wastewater management issues of small communities in Jourdan River Watershed, Mississippi

Wastewater treatment and nutrient removal alternatives for large size communities are very
well-established and are feasible in many cases. When it comes to the small rural and especially
for low-income disadvantaged communities, this is not the case, particularly with regard to nutrient
removal. The alternatives for small communities are often viewed as cost-prohibitive and
unreliable. While this is partly true, careful selection and implementation of appropriate
technologies can result in high performance, energy and cost efficient and environmental-friendly
solutions.
Assessment of water and wastewater is very crucial to safeguard public health and the
environment. However, water quality data on fresh and marine waters in the Mississippi coastal
region, especially in Jourdan watershed are still sparse and uncoordinated. Therefore, monitoring
these parameters is important for safety assessment of the environment and human public health
and the water bodies. We have identified a few small and decentralized communities in the Jourdan
River watershed area to assess the current wastewater treatment and management practices and
their impacts on the receiving water bodies. This paper will discuss our preliminary
evaluation and understanding on the local water quality issues of the watershed.