Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP)- Newsletter
Nassau County Septic and Cesspool Replacement Program

In this issue of the LINAP newsletter, we highlight Nassau County’s septic and cesspool replacement program. This program is critical to our efforts in reducing nitrogen entering our groundwater and surface water in areas outside designated sewer areas.

Septic and Cesspools in Nassau County

Nitrogen pollution from cesspools and septic systems has been identified as the largest cause of degraded water quality contributing to beach closures, toxic algae blooms, and massive fish kills. Conventional septic systems are not designed to remove nitrogen. The average residential septic system discharges approximately 40 pounds of nitrogen per year.

There are tens of thousands of homes and small businesses in Nassau County that are currently served by cesspools and septic systems. Reversing water quality degradation will depend on replacing existing systems with nitrogen reducing technologies called Innovate Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems or I/A OWTS.

When properly designed, sited, installed, managed, and maintained, I/A OWTS 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. These nitrogen removing systems provide greater performance reliability and enhanced treatment that helps to protect public health and the environment.

Photo credit: Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District

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

The Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness (S.E.P.T.I.C.) provides grants of up to $20,000 to eligible residents, small businesses and not-for-profits to replace a cesspool or inadequate septic system with nitrogen reducing Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A OWTS). The program is made possible through $4 million dollars in grants from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with Nassau County matching an additional $4 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds. To date, over 200 residents have enrolled in the program, 82 grant agreements have been signed by program applicants, and 36 systems have been successfully installed.

The eligibility criteria for the program includes: 

• Residences must be single family, owner-occupied and a property owner’s primary residence.
•  The residence/small business must be served by a septic system or cesspool and not connected to a sewer system or located within a proposed sewer district. 
• Property does not have any outstanding or open real property tax liens. 
• There must be a valid certificate of occupancy (CO) or equivalent.
• Residents must have an executed installation contract to apply.

Photo credit: Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District

Qualifying residents can contact SepticReplace@nassaucountyny.gov or 516-364-5861 for more information and instructions on how to apply. Applications can be filled out online at NassauCountyNY.gov/SepticReplace. 

The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District administers the program with funding provided by the Long Island Regional Planning Council.

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