Author(s)

M. J. M. Wells, D. B. George & Y. R. Clark

Abstract

Local decision makers need an unbiased process to determine small communities at risk from inadequate wastewater treatment. The geographic information system (GIS) enables decision makers to identify impacted communities and establish a fair and equitable approach to allocation of resources for remediation strategies. The use of GIS in this manner is demonstrated for Tennessee, USA, but the methodology is applicable broadly. GIS was used to develop methodology for identifying communities with a population of 10,000 or less in which there existed public health, water quality and/or aesthetic impacts associated with inadequate wastewater treatment. The GIS approach, normalized by population, identified communities with the highest ranking problems, as well as control communities that had no known health, water quality or aesthetic problems due to inadequate wastewater treatment. Keywords: rural communities, wastewater treatment, health risk, interaction of social and environmental issues, geographic information system. 1 Introduction A geographic information system (GIS) was used to develop methodology for identifying rural Tennessee communities with a population of 10,000 or less in which there existed public health, water quality, and/or aesthetic impacts associated with inadequate wastewater treatment. Potential results of inadequate

Keywords

rural communities, wastewater treatment, health risk, interaction of social and environmental issues, geographic information system.