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 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:

1. Property must be located wholly or in part within 250 feet of the lake.
2. Property must be in the state of New Hampshire.
3. Funding is only for residential single-family homes, duplexes, or seasonal camps.
4. Must have an existing sewage disposal system on property that is outdated, undersized, damaged, or non-functional. New home construction or expansion that requires a septic upgrade is not eligible.
5. Property on which the home is located cannot be in any stage of sale or foreclosure. Applicant must either own property outright or be current on any mortgage, contract for deed, etc.
6. Property must be on a lake that is covered under an existing Watershed Management Plan. This includes: Province Lake, Pine River Pond, Lake Ivanhoe, Great East Lake, Horn Pond, and Lovell Lake.

A review of the Septic System Evaluation and Certification Form (see below) will determine priority level.

NOTE: The Evaluation and Certification form must be completed by a certified septic inspector.