11 Oct Suffolk County Grant Money APPROVED
Reclaim Our Water Septic Improvement Program
Big news is happening in the world of septic! Suffolk County has been fighting to approve federal funding for their residents to upgrade to nitrogen-reducing septic systems and not only has the budget been approved but grant money has already been distributed! We were honored to be a part of the team that put the first system, Hydro-Action, under federal funding in the ground.
As the County put on their website “Nitrogen pollution from cesspools and septic systems has been identified as the largest single cause of degraded water quality contributing to beach closures, restrictions on shell fishing, toxic algae blooms, and massive fish kills. Thousands of parcels are currently served by polluting cesspools and septic systems, but will never connect to a sewer system. Reversing degradation of water quality will depend on replacement of existing systems with new, individual Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A OWTS)”, such as Hydro-Action.
“Over the past several years, Suffolk County has assertively set the stage for the transition to the use of these new systems. To make the cost of I/A systems — with an average total cost of $19,200, contingent on system requirements and site constraints — more affordable for homeowners, Suffolk County has developed the Septic Improvement Program. Under the Reclaim Our Water Septic Improvement Program, homeowners who decide to replace their cesspool or septic system with the new technologies will be eligible for a grant of up to $11,000 — inclusive of installing a pressurized shallow drain field — to offset the cost of one of the new systems.
Wondering if you’re eligible for the grant? The County has compiled a quick list of requirements.
Grant Eligibility:
- The residence must be single family, owner-occupied year round
- The residence cannot be connected to a sewer system or located within a proposed sewer district
- Property may not be used as a rental property
- No home based business on the property or in the residence
- Property owner(s) may not be a current employee of Suffolk County, an elected official of the State of New York or any political subdivision therein (e.g., elected official of town, village, county, etc.), or a party officer
- Income verification (Federal Adjusted Gross Income based on most recent tax return must be under $500,000)
- Documents such as copies of the property deed, the most recent homeowner’s insurance policy statement, most recent property tax bill, Certificate of Occupancy or equivalent, and the property owner(s)’ most recent signed tax return are required for a completed application
What if the Grant money isn’t enough?
In addition to the grant, homeowners can qualify to finance the remaining cost of the systems via a loan, payable over 15 years at a low 3% fixed interest rate. The purpose of the loan is to provide “gap” funds to finance the difference between the grant to be provided by Suffolk County and the contract amount needed to install the replacement septic system. Gap Financing up to $10,000 is available.”
We couldn’t do it without the help of our partners Ecological Supply Company, South Fork Septic and Infiltrator Water Technologies. Want to learn more? Visit Suffolk County’s website for the “Reclaim Our Water Septic Improvement Program” by clicking here.
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