Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID SC_2024_Jeong

Estimating Economic Value of Alternative Residential Wastewater Management in South Carolina

Institute: South Carolina
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $34,970 Total Non-Federal Funds: $65,082

Principal Investigators: Clemson University

Project Summary: Potential water quality problems are present under the current residential water management system in South Carolina (e.g., unmonitored septic tanks). This study will explore two alternative management approaches that improve the current systems (1. Voluntary regular septic maintenance, and 2) Utility connection). We will estimate SC residents’ value to each alternative choice, which can be used for future water policy design including the plans for utility expansion. We target to survey residents in 9 coastal counties in SC because coastal regions are at high risk of septic failure due to flooding from storms and king tides and rising/fluctuating groundwater levels.