Fayette Soil & Water Conservation District (FSWCD) continues to accept applications for the 2016 Fayette County HSTS Program. This program provides financial assistance for the repair and/or replacement of failing Household Septic Treatment Systems (HSTS), commonly referred to as septic systems.
Applicants must meet the following conditions to be eligible: 1) The house must be owner-occupied; 2) The existing system must be certified as ‘failing” by the Fayette County Health Department; 3) Total household income must be equal to or less than 300 percent of the 2015 U.S. Department of Health Poverty Guidelines.
“We had a good response during the initial sign-up period that ended on April 29. We are currently working to repair or replace the septic systems of 15 Fayette County homeowners.” said FSWCD Director Chet Murphy. “We anticipate that some funding will remain after these failing systems are repaired or replaced. Therefore, we will accept new applications on a first come-first served basis until further notice.”
Once an application is received, the Fayette County Health Department will conduct a site inspection to determine if the system is failing. If the system is certified as “failing” and the application is approved, FSWCD will administer and contract all activities necessary to bring the system up to current standards.
The amount of financial assistance will be based on the applicant’s total household income. Approved homeowners will be required to deposit their share of the project costs into an FSWCD held escrow account prior to the start of any work on the system.
Funding for this program is provided by the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Additional funding is provided through a Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant administered by the Fayette County Building Department.
Applications are available at and must be returned to:
Fayette SWCD
Attn: HSTS Program
1415 US 22 SW, Suite 500
Washington Court House OH 43160.
For more information, contact Chet Murphy at 740-636-0279 or email to [email protected].
This article was submitted by the Fayette SWCD.
