To Expand Septic Program
The Suffolk County Legislature voted on Dec. 18 to amend the Residential Septic Incentive Program, a grant assistance program for the installation of innovative and alternative wastewater treatment systems, to expand the pool of those eligible to participate in it.
The five-year, $75-million program was established in 2017 to encourage property owners to replace conventional septic systems with new models in order to reduce nitrogen seepage into waterways. Excessive nitrogen contamination is a primary culprit in the harmful algal blooms that have fouled several waterways on the South Fork and across Long Island.
“The overall goal is to broaden the range of eligible properties to make sure those dollars get out the door,” Legislator Bridget Fleming said. “It’s very, very important.”
The East Hampton Town Board signed a letter of support for the program’s expansion, Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said last month.
Accessory dwellings, whether part of a property’s primary residence or a detached structure, are now eligible, as are multifamily dwellings. Along with individuals, firms, partnerships, corporations, trusts, or other legal entities are also now eligible under the expansion. In addition to property owners, tenants are now eligible to take part.
The maximum grant has also been increased. Applicants are now eligible for a grant of up to $15,000, up from $11,000, and up to $20,000 for applicants deemed low or moderate income, as determined by area median income according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The county received and allocated just over $10 million in state funding for grants to eligible property owners, out of the $15 million for the program’s first year, “which indicates what a strong program it is,” Ms. Fleming said on Monday. “Kudos to East Hampton Town and Supervisor Van Scoyoc for their leadership, because I think 55 percent of grants that have been awarded to date have gone to my district,” which comprises the Towns of Southampton, East Hampton, and Shelter Island, as well as parts of Brookhaven. “All of East Hampton’s support for environmental issues, and certainly clean water issues, has been huge.”
Separately, the Town of East Hampton offers rebates, through the community preservation fund’s water quality improvement fund, to property owners who upgrade to an approved low-nitrogen septic system. Those with an annual income less than $500,000 are eligible for a rebate of up to $10,000, up to $16,000 if the property is within the water protection district.