Shelter Island Septic Rebate Program Details

Shelter Island residents who want to upgrade their septic may qualify for the Innovative / Advanced On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Rebate Program.

The septic rebate provides Shelter Island homeowners with financial assistance to help replace their conventional septic and cesspool systems.

As part of Shelter Island’s septic rebate program, you’ll be required to replace older systems with new systems that must include:

I/A OWTS and PSDs are an integral way for homeowners to reduce their impact on the local environment.

Why Shelter Island is Offering the Rebate Program

Officials in New York State, Suffolk County, and on Shelter Island are looking for ways to reduce the impact of nitrate contamination in local aquifers. Older septic systems, drain fields, and cesspools do not account for nitrate contamination that leaches into soil and impacts Shelter Island’s water supply as well as local waterways and fisheries.

The contamination seeps into both groundwater and surface water.

At low levels, nitrates may not cause harm, but at higher levels, they can cause algae blooms, kill fish, and deplete oxygen levels in the water.

Upgrading your outdated septic system is an opportunity to stop this damage from progressing and local governments like Shelter Island are offering assistance to homeowners like you to help defray or even eliminate the costs associated with the design, purchase, and installation of a new septic system.

How Much of a Septic Rebate Can You Receive?

Shelter Island offers two main grant options that qualifying residents can apply for to receive money back on their septic installation. Of course, there are eligibility requirements that must be met. The two main grants are:

  • Base Grant that offers up to $6,000 for a project. An evaluation will be done, and the grant amount will depend on the benefit provided by your project to the aquifer.
  • Income Incentive options are available to homeowners who are in greater financial need. When filing for the grant, you must request some form of consideration to be able to receive additional financial support.

The incentive rebate schedule is as follows:

  • $2,000 for applicants with less than $80,000 in annual income
  • $1,500 for applicants with less than $120,000 in annual income
  • $1,000 for applicants with more than $120,000 and less than $150,000 in annual income

If you’re installing a pressurized, shallow drain field, you may have opportunities to apply for the incentive, which offers up to $2,000 for installations of PSDs.

Keep in mind that Shelter Island’s septic rebate grants kick in for costs that aren’t covered by Suffolk County and the State of New York.

Grants on the Suffolk County level are as much as $20,000 in rebates. New York State also offers up to $10,000 for septic upgrades. So, when all grants and rebates are combined, the entire cost of your septic system may be covered.

In most cases, those who qualify for grants also qualify for low-interest loans if they need to fill in any gaps in funding.

Bridgewater Environmental can help you apply for all of the available rebates and grants to help you cover most, if not all costs associated with your septic system upgrade.

Looking to Upgrade Your Septic or Cesspool System?

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