Abstract
This study analyzes survey data from three eastern Lake Michigan watersheds to understand how rural homeowners engage in onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) maintenance. Responses about awareness and use of best management practices (BMPs), knowledge of system age, and barriers to recommended maintenance were used to develop a behavioral typology of homeowner engagement, with profiles ranging from proactive maintenance to passive noncompliance. This typology was then used to examine how management styles vary across geographic context, sociodemographic factors, and support for policy tools to promote proactive system care. While many homeowners report following recommended OWTS practices – even when facing substantial barriers – the findings suggest that uncertainty and knowledge gaps contribute to inconsistent adherence to BMPs. Although most respondents support policy tools that encourage responsible OWTS management, some ambivalence exists toward measures involving direct oversight by state and local officials, such as health department reminders and cost share programs. This study contributes original empirical evidence and a novel behavioral typology to the literature on decentralized wastewater governance, nonpoint source pollution, and rural sanitation equity in the Great Lakes region. The findings offer actionable insights for targeted outreach, financing, and policy strategies that can strengthen septic system stewardship across diverse watershed contexts.
