Wastewater infrastructure is a necessary foundation for rural economic opportunities, but it is often ignored until there is a major, costly problem. Long-term neglect of wastewater infrastructure in rural communities has negative implications for economic sustainability and development in these communities. Inadequate system capacity and physical deterioration can hinder business development and expansion opportunities, threaten business operations, and weaken employee recruitment. Communities pay for wastewater system failures not only with interruptions in this essential service but also with fines for regulation violations. Without proactive wastewater system improvements, rural community members face negative public health and environmental impacts, compounding economic issues.

This brief shares the findings from a case study of a small town in the Mississippi Delta region that decided to upgrade its public wastewater infrastructure after facing costly violations and system breakdowns. In the context of this community—which is located in a state where approximately half of the population lives in rural areas—we sought to assess the role of wastewater services in rural economic development, the challenges stemming from aging or deteriorating wastewater infrastructure, and the barriers to maintaining or upgrading systems that rural communities face. Our recommendations for practitioners and policy makers are as follows:

• Increase proactive assessments, maintenance, and upgrades to water and wastewater systems rather than relying on punitive measures such as violations.
• Increase dedicated funding for water and wastewater system improvements.
• Provide support to water and wastewater systems to hire and retain trained personnel.
• Support trusted third-party organizations to guide the planning process for wastewater improvements.
• Engage community members and inform them about the water and wastewater systems they are relying on and financially supporting.
• Support businesses in adopting sustainable systems and technologies that reduce strain on local rural systems and water-related resources.