Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association - Problems Facing The Watershed

Problems Facing The Watershed

The main problem facing the watershed is untreated househole sewage. UGWA conducted a watershed-wide study to determine the number of people without wastewater treatment. The study found that 66% of the residents in the watershed (over 5,000 homes) had no form of househole wastewater treatment. That meant that 66% of the people are either "straight piping", which is when all of their household wastewater enters a pipe that dumps directly into the stream, or have failing septic systems. This has led to large amounts of untreated household sewage in most of the streams throughout the watershed. The only municipal wastewater treatment facility in the watershed is located in Mullens and provides service to 23% of homes. 9% of the homes have a permitted septic system, leaving 66% with untreated wastewater.