Septic System Replacement Fund

Governor Kathy Hochul on July 7 announced $30 million is now available through the State Septic System Replacement Program to support home and small business owners. The grants are the third round from a total of $75 million provided through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act to improve water quality and protect public health through the targeted replacement of aging and sub-standard septic systems and removal of cesspools in communities statewide. 

Governor's Press Release

Homeowners: Reach out to your local program contact if you have questions about whether your property is eligible for grant funding. 

The Septic System Replacement Fund Program provides funding to counties to help homeowners replace cesspools and septic systems. Participating counties, as outlined below, provide grants to reimburse property owners for up to 50% of the costs (up to a maximum of $10,000) of their eligible septic system projects. The list of participating counties has been updated as of Sept. 8, 2022.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health determined priority geographic areas in which property owners are eligible to participate based on the following factors:

• Presence of a sole-source aquifer used for drinking water
• Known water quality impairment linked to failing septic systems, and/or
• The ability for septic system upgrades to mitigate water quality impairments.

DEC and DOH will re-evaluate priority waterbodies in future rounds of funding.

Participating counties are responsible for reviewing and evaluating the applications and determine financial assistance awards based on the program criteria. The following considerations are made: property’s location in relation to a waterbody, impacts to groundwater used as drinking water, and the condition of the property owner’s current septic system. After evaluating the applications and making the funding decisions, participating counties notify the property owners of their grant awards by sending them award letters.

Eligible Projects

• Replacement of a cesspool with a septic system; or
• Installation, replacement or upgrade of a septic system or septic system components;
• Installation of enhanced treatment technologies, including an advanced nitrogen removal system.

Eligible Costs

• Design and installation costs
• Costs of the system
• System components
• Enhanced treatment technologies
• Design costs (limited only to work needed to complete approved design)

Ineligible Costs

• Routine maintenance such as pump out of a septic tank
• Expenses that are not appropriately documented
• Government permit fee
• Interest and late fees
• Fines and penalties
• Sales tax payment
• Non-essential site beautification or interior plumbing changes
• Administrative work conducted by the engineer
• Construction observation by the engineer if the engineer, or an entity owned, controlled by or employing the engineer, is also conducting the repair or replacement

The following counties are participating in the Septic System Replacement Fund. Funding is only available for the counties and priority waterbodies as determined by DEC listed below. This list was updated as of Sept. 8, 2022. 

Please reach out to your local program contact if you have questions about whether your property is eligible for grant funding.

* Only Eligible for Round 1 Funding

I would like to apply for the program.

The program is administered by participating counties and each county has a Local Program Contact who can help determine eligibility and next steps for the program. Please refer to the Participating Counties section and find your county’s Local Program Contact and reach out to them.

My county is not listed on the eligible county list, am I eligible?

If your county is not listed in the Participating Counties section then your county is not eligible for the program. However, you may want to reach out to your local County Health or Planning Department to see what other programs the county may have to assist you.

I do not see my waterbody listed as one of the Eligible Waterbodies, can it be added to the program?

The list of eligible waterbodies for Round 2 is final. The legislation creating the program focused on improving water quality in those waterbodies that have documented impairments from septic system pollution. To meet the legislative intent of the program, for Round 2 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation developed screening criteria that focused on documented water quality impairments and potential for septic replacement to improve water quality.

How do I provide NYSDEC water quality data that my local group collects?

Note: The links in this answer will take you off EFC's website. 

All data should be submitted to the NYSDEC during the data solicitation period. The data solicitation period is currently underway for the 2020/2022 Integrated Report/(303(d) List). The announcement was made in the May 19th issue of the Environmental Notice Bulletin and the May 21st issue of DEC Division of Waters e-newsletter Making Waves. The data solicitation period will close on September 27, 2021.  Sign up here to receive future editions of Making Waves.

I live in one of the five NYC Boroughs, is my property eligible for the program?

New York City is continuing to build out the sewer systems in their jurisdiction, therefore none of the five Boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island) are eligible for the State Septic Replacement Program. Sewering is the best solution to improve water quality. People with properties on septic systems or are considering installation of septic systems are encouraged to reach out to New York City Department Environmental Protection to see what options are available. Below is the NYCDEP link for more information.

NYCDEP SEWER CERTIFICATION AND CONNECTION PERMITS (EXternal Link)

Counties which have identified priority areas will have received the following forms or letters for their use. However, they are also available here for their convenience. Clicking these links will take you off the EFC website. 

• Notification Letter to Property Owners
• Septic System Replacement Program Application Form
• Grant Award Letter
• Grant Denial Letter
• County Request for Disbursement

Some counties have secured additional funds to work in conjunction with the State Septic System Replacement Fund Program. The supplemental funds help to increase the number of repair/replacements and prompting water quality improvements.

Rensselaer County

The county has Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) grant funding up to $25,000 per household or business for a homeowner to repair or replace failing septic systems.  The funds can be used in addition to the $10,000 of the State Septic System Replacement Funds. Rensselaer is using the CBDG funds to expand their program to help repair septic systems outside of the 250 ft limit of the State program. The CBDG funds are based on the homeowner’s income and can help them afford a costly repair or replacement. 

Suffolk County

The Suffolk County Septic Improvement Program provides up to $10,000 base grant. There is also up to an additional $10,000 that can be awarded to a grantee that installs a pressurized shallow drain field leaching system ($5,000) and/or toward the unit installation for low to moderate incomes eligible applicants ($5,000). Suffolk County also has low interest loans of up to $10,000 through the Community Development Corporation of Long Island. Additionally, Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island provide Community Preservation Funds.

Nassau County

Nassau County Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness provides grant funding of up to $20,000 to repair and replace failing septic systems with nitrogen-reducing system. Nassau County uses $10,000 of federal funds from the American Recovery Plan Act in conjunction with $10,000 from State Septic System Replacement Grant funds. 

If your county has secured additional funds and would like to showcase your funding program, please reach out to [email protected] so you can be added to the list.

Please note if you are an applicant in a county listed above, you are not guaranteed the funding outline above. To learn more about your eligibility, reach out to your local program contact for details. Refer to the Participating Counties section for local program contact information.