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The 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) allocated $13.6 million for residential septic system repair and replacement in the West-of-Hudson Watershed through 2002. In November of 2002, the US EPA granted a five-year extension of the City’s Filtration Avoidance Determination, extending funding for the Septic Program to accommodate 300 systems per year through 2007. The 2007 FAD provides for continuation of the program.
The program reimburses permanent residents 100 percent of eligible costs of repairing or replacing a failed septic system. Non-primary residents are reimbursed 60 percent of eligible costs.
[NOTE: THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT PAY FOR NEW SEPTIC SYSTEMS SERVING NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HOMES.]
Am I eligible to participate?
Size: Your one- or two-family residence or home-business combination must use less than 1,000 gallons per day, and be located in the NYC Watershed in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan or Ulster Counties.
Area: Your septic system must be within 200 feet of a watercourse or within 500 feet of a reservoir or reservoir stem in the West-of-Hudson watershed.
How can I participate?
If you receive a letter from the CWC indicating your property is located within an eligible area, you are invited to arrange for a CWC site visit.
If it is determined that the system needs further analysis, you will need to engage a contractor to unearth part of the system to be inspected by the CWC and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
If problems are found, they must be fixed. You are responsible for engaging a system designer, obtaining DEP approval of the proposed design, getting the necessary permits, and engaging a contractor to do the work. We recommend that you obtain a quote for the job and submit it to CWC for written approval before any cost is incurred. We determine reasonable costs based on a Schedule of Values.
Once construction is complete and approved by the NYC DEP, you may file a reimbursement application with the CWC. You may request issuance of a two-party check.
What if I’m not in an eligible area?
If the NYC DEP issues you a Notice of Failure or Violation for a failed septic system, you MUST comply with requirements and have that system repaired or replaced. First, contact the CWC to confirm whether you are, in fact, outside the eligibility area. If you are determined to be ineligible, we suggest that you save all pertinent paperwork and receipts which may allow you to be reimbursed for certain expenses should the CWC expand its coverage area and your property becomes eligible for the program at some point in the future.
Homeowners who meet income requirements may qualify for hardship assistance from the CWC, whether or not their property lies within an eligible area. Call 845-586-1400 for more information.
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