US EPA

The U.S. EPA conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) of proposed sanitary code changes regarding individual sewerage systems (ISS) in Suffolk County, New York. ISS, including onsite sewage disposal systems (OSDS; i.e., cesspools) and septic tank-leaching pool systems (“conventional” onsite wastewater treatment systems or C-OWTS) can contribute nutrients, such as nitrogen, to ground and surface waters. The Suffolk County Government was considering changes to the County Sanitary Code for single-family residential ISS as one of several efforts to address the growing environmental issues related to nitrogen pollution impacting local waters.

The goal of the HIA was to help inform the County’s decision regarding the proposed sanitary code changes by evaluating the potential for the proposed changes to impact individual and community health. Based on input from stakeholders, including community members, scientific experts, and decision-makers, the HIA Project Team identified pathways through which the proposed code changes could potentially impact health. Five pathways were prioritized for inclusion in the HIA analysis: individual sewerage system performance and failure; water quality; community and household economics; vector control; and resiliency to natural disaster.

This HIA provided evidence-based recommendations for the County to consider in its decision-making process and bring together stakeholders and decision-makers at the local, state, regional, and federal levels to promote health, equity, and sustainability.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) of proposed sanitary code changes regarding individual sewerage systems (ISS) in Suffolk County, New York. The goal of the HIA was to help inform the County’s decision regarding the proposed changes to the sanitary code by evaluating the potential for the proposed changes to impact individual and community health. The HIA provided evidence-based recommendations for the County to consider in its decision-making process.

U.S. EPA. Health Impact Assessment (2014-2016) of Proposed Code Changes Regarding Individual Sewerage Systems in Suffolk County, New York. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-21/186F, 2021.