Septic System Replacement Cost-Share Program
Overview and Guidelines The Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) has been awarded several Watershed Assistance Grants from the NH Department of Environmental Services to help households on Province Lake, Pine River Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Great East Lake, Horn Pond, and Lovell Lake upgrade, repair, or replace failing septic systems—a.k.a. individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS). Septic systems, if not functioning properly, can release nutrients, bacteria, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants into the groundwater.
The NHDES Watershed Assistance Grant Program and AWWA recognize that septic system repairs can be costly and would like to assist homeowners in eligible areas in making needed repairs to their systems and leach fields in order to protect groundwater, surface water quality, and the public drinking water supply of our area.
The funds will be dispersed to eligible households in the form of a grant that will cover up to 60% toward the cost for upgrading or repairing a failing septic system to a compliant septic system. Funds are capped at $5,000 per system. Preference will be given to upgrading ISDS deemed high priority (see #5 Eligibility) or in failure (i.e. ISDS that are surface discharging, discharging into surface waters, or having reoccurring sewage backups) and located within 250 feet of the lake.
Funding for this project was provided in part by several Watershed Assistance Grants from the NH Department of Environmental Services with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Property must be located within 250 feet of Province Lake, Pine River Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Great East Lake, Horn Pond, or Lovell Lake.
- Funding is only for residential single-family homes, duplexes, or seasonal camps.
- Must have high priority or failing individual sewage disposal system on property. New home construction or expansion is not eligible.
- Property cannot be in any stage of sale or foreclosure. Applicant must own property outright or be current on the mortgage, contract for deed, etc. secured on the property.
- Type of ISDS, age, and distance to surface water are criteria that will be used to assess priority. Cesspools and holding tanks are considered high risk. ISDS for which no permitting history exists may be considered high risk; i.e. no construction and/or operational permits on file with NHDES.
- Currently, these grants apply to New Hampshire residents only.
A review of the Septic System Evaluation and Certification Form (see below) will determine priority level.
Download, fill-out and return both forms to AWWA in order to be considered for the Septic System Cost-Share Program. NOTE: the Evaluation Certification form must be completed by a certified septic inspector.
Application for septic system replacement cost-share program
For properties on Province Lake, Pine River Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Great East Lake, Horn Pond, & Lovell Lake
Download both of these forms; complete the Septic Replacement Application and have the Septic Inspection form filled out by a certified septic inspector. Return both completed forms to AWWA to be considered for cost-share funding for your septic system replacement.
