Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness (SEPTIC)

Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness (S.E.P.T.I.C.)

Nassau County has initiated a septic system replacement program for homeowners, small businesses, and not-for-profits called the Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness (SEPTIC). The SEPTIC program will provide grant funding to eligible recipients to replace a conventional or failing septic system with an innovative and alternative onsite wastewater treatment system. Nassau County is offering grants up to $20,000 for homeowners, small businesses, and not-for-profits to install state-of-the-art nitrogen reducing septic systems.

Nitrogen pollution from cesspools and septic systems has been identified as the largest single cause of degraded water quality on Long Island, contributing to beach closures, restrictions on shell fishing, toxic algae blooms, and massive fish kills. A conventional onsite septic system was never designed to remove nitrogen. The average residential septic system discharges approximately 40 pounds of nitrogen per year.

Tens of thousands of homes and small businesses in Nassau County are currently served by cesspools and septic systems. Reversing degradation of water quality will depend on replacement of existing systems with these new nitrogen reducing technologies. When properly designed, sited, installed, managed, and maintained, these new septic systems provide a cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative to sewers in areas that are outside designated sewer areas. These systems significantly reduce nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, before being discharged below grade to leaching structures.

These nitrogen removing systems can provide greater performance reliability and enhanced treatment that helps to protect public health and the environment.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

  • Be a single family, two family, not-for profit organization, or small businesses with an existing sanitary design flow less than or equal to 1,000 gallons per day (GPD).
  • The project must be a replacement of an existing septic system or cesspool with a new nitrogen reducing Innovative Alternative On-Site Wastewater Treatment System (IA OWTS). The IA OWTS must have been installed after March 1, 2018, to be eligible for the S.E.P.T.I.C. grant funding.
  • Have a valid certificate of occupancy or existing use issued by the pertinent city, town or village.
  • Be served by an existing septic system or cesspool and not be connected to a public or private sewer or located within an existing or proposed sewer district.  If the property is located in an existing sewer district but is unable to connect due to site constraints documented by the Sewer District in question, the property may be eligible, provided the applicant meets all other eligibility requirements.
  • Not have any outstanding or open real property tax liens.

The technologies currently accepted for use as part of the S.E.P.T.I.C. Program are:

  • Hydro-Action AN Series
  • Norweco Singulair TNT and Norweco HydroKinetic
  • Orenco Advantex AX20
  • Fuji Clean CEN Series
  • SeptiTech STAAR

For more information on S.E.P.T.I.C. please visit
Nassau Septic | Nassau County, NY - Official Website (nassaucountyny.gov)