06/22/2026
Michigan stands alone as the only state in the country without a comprehensive statewide code regulating onsite wastewater treatment systems, more commonly known as septic systems. The state currently relies on a patchwork of county and local regulations, but many experts have argued it falls short of protecting public health and water quality.
Roughly 1.3 million septic systems serve half of the state's population, and environmental models estimate that 20% to 30% of them are currently failing.
Because these systems are buried underground, their failure is completely invisible until the damage is already done.
Researchers at Michigan State University led by water resource scientist Anthony Kendall, have been tracking watershed health using advanced microbiological tools. By isolating a specific DNA marker from a bacterium exclusive to the human gut, scientists can show that f***l contamination in Michigan's rivers is coming from failing human infrastructure, not wildlife or agriculture.
When these outdated or broken systems leak billions of gallons of untreated wastewater, the consequences cascade:
🟢Public Health Risks: Pathogens trigger beach closures, swimming advisories, and waterborne illnesses.
🟢Ecological Damage: Nitrogen and phosphorus pour into lakes, acting as artificial fertilizers that fuel harmful algal blooms (HABs) and choke out native fish populations.
🟢The Geography Trap: People naturally love building homes near beautiful lakes and rivers. But these low-lying waterfront environments lack the deep, dry sediment layers that traditional septic systems require to properly filter waste before it hits the water table.
Fixing this problem is a matter of structural engineering and proactive environmental risk management. Read more: https://msunatsci.info/msu-water-policy
MSU Water Alliance
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
