7 IslandVibesIOP.com NEWS Septic systems to eventually be replaced? Opinions divided over keeping the island part septic and part sewer By L. C. Leach III Not so long ago at the turn of the 21st century, you might have been hard-pressed to find anyone on Isle of Palms who cared whether their waste treatment came from a sewer system or septic system – especially since the island catered to both with apparently no concerns. But now there are rumblings that transitioning to one uniform system would not only keep the island’s environment and water safer from severe weather but eliminate the threat of wastewater pollutants spreading during heavy rains and storms. Even though the issue is still some years away from a decision, opposing factions are already lining up to discuss data and solutions. “Whether there is any environmental advantage to replacing the island’s remaining septic systems with a gravity sewer system varies across the island, depending on where you are,” said Chris Jordan, general manager for IOP Water and Sewer Commission. “However, gravity sewer systems are very reliable and consistently treat sewer efficiently and are not as prone to issues related to rain events, sea-level rise and flooding.” He also pointed out that while septic systems are usually reliable and properly maintained by the homeowners, the island’s high-water table can complicate their function. “Sea-level rise can affect the water table on barrier islands, which in turn can affect the ability of drainfields to operate efficiently,” Jordan said. “Flooding during heavy rain events and storms can also have an impact on the ability of septic systems to operate efficiently.” Currently, the island is split among three waste treatment systems: gravity sewer; approximately 200 grinder pumps, which pump sewage from homes to the sewer systems; and 1,108 septic tanks as of July 21. Laura Lovins, chair of the IOP Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), mentioned in a June 24 presentation to the city council that many parts of the island regularly experience flooding even during “sunny day” rain events – and, that even though septic systems often work as well as gravity sewer, they are always in the position of compromising otherwise excellent water quality. “The City of Isle of Palms currently has no ordinances that require regular maintenance or inspections of septic systems,” Lovins said. “We are relying on property owners on the island to do the right thing and have their septic system pumped out regularly and stay on top of maintenance of septic lines and their drainfield.” Both she and Jordan added that even if all the island’s septic systems needed overhauling, replacing them would take more than just a council vote. “We’ve had a Sewer Master Plan in place for quite some time to install gravity sewer and eliminate septic tanks on the island,” Jordan said. “The issue is the funding.” The cost to complete the project is currently estimated at between $70 million-$100 million. This range is expected to increase with each passing year. “We have partnered with the city to pursue federal funding to help with the cost of installing gravity sewer on the island,” Jordan said. “We want to make it as affordable as possible for residents to connect should the system be installed.” And EAC members are beginning a comprehensive septic project to include: • Researching the island’s septic footprint. • Further water quality testing from major water events in septic drainfields. • Studying other coastal communities, such as the Town of Mount Pleasant and Nags Head, North Carolina, for best practice recommendations around septic health. It will likely be some time before the matter comes before the city council for deliberate discussion and resident input. But City Councilman David Cohen is somewhat skeptical about a full changeover without more facts and evidence to warrant it. “Based on my research, on-site septic systems are no more a threat to the environment than a centralized sewer system – the testing results done in 2025 support this opinion,” he said. “Multiple academic and government-sponsored studies have shown that a properly installed and maintained centralized sewer system is as effective at treating domestic wastewater as a properly installed and maintained on-site septic system.” However, he said that much of the current discussion revolves around what is defined as ‘properly maintained.’ “This could be addressed easily through routine inspection reporting, which would be my first preference if we were seeing an issue with water quality impacts from on-site septic systems,” Cohen said. “But without any evidence that septic systems are a threat, I can’t support (an ordinance requiring all septic owners to be on a centralized sewer system.)” When asked his preference for a long-term solution, Mayor Phillip Pounds said he personally hopes that a gravity sewer system will ultimately be the desired option among all residents. But before any switchover is considered, he said that resident input will first have to be heard, and that a viable way to pay for a single, island-wide waste system, should it happen, must be secured. “To sewer the entire island is very expensive and disruptive,” Pounds said. “So there needs to be a solid financial plan in place before going down this path.”
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