Do you have a failing septic system at your house? You may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to replace it. Each year, the District partners with Jefferson County Health Department and Jefferson County Commissioners to apply for funding to help income-eligible residents repair failing septic systems that are causing impairment to groundwater, ditches and streams in Jefferson County’s watersheds.

The program funding comes from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) administered by the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and Ohio Water Development Authority.

To be considered eligible to receive funding, the total combined income of all residents working in the household must be under 300% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines and the home must be in Jefferson County and owned and occupied by the applicant. The home’s septic system must also be documented as failing by the Jefferson County Health Department. Program funding is not for residents who want to replace their failing septic system for the purpose of selling their home.

Due to the large number of failing septic systems in the county and the high cost of replacing a system, there are typically more eligible applicants than available funding. Applications are scored based on watershed and environmental factors to determine the order in which projects are funded. The number of septic systems that can be replaced or repaired with the funding will depend on the actual costs of individual projects.

Applicants who are successful in securing funding can qualify for 50%, 85% or 100% of the septic system repair or replacement project or connection cost, depending on income.

Please note that no funding is available at this time. However, we hope to be able to start taking applications for the next round of funding by June 2025. If you wish to be put on a list to receive an application, please contact Aidan Sammut at (740)264-9790 or through email at asammut@jeffersoncountyoh.com

*If your situation is urgent and you are unable to wait to apply, you may also want to consider the USDA Rural Development Single Housing Repair Loans and Grants program:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants

Program Fact Sheet:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/508_rd_fs_rhs_sfh504homerepair.pdf