Seeking to make it easier and cheaper for residents to update their aging septic systems, which have been found to be a main cause of excessive nitrogen in ground and surface waters, the East Hampton Town Board seemed supportive of increasing funding for their installation at the board’s July 21 meeting.
“We know the problem, right? It’s nitrogen in our water,” Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said. “We know the solution. It’s upgrading your septic system” to an innovative-alternative system. “It’s simple when you say it that way, but to give folks the incentive so that it doesn’t cost anything out of pocket, it becomes a no-brainer. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Mellissa McCarron, who wears many hats -- principal environmental analyst in the Natural Resources Department, coordinator for the water quality improvement program, and member of the water quality technical advisory committee -- had a couple of key suggestions to make the successful program even more so.
There are now two zones covered by the program. The town incentivizes homeowners in the water protection district with up to $20,000 for installation costs, and $15,000 for those not in a priority area. Those with moderate incomes can apply to receive an extra $5,000.
Often the town funding is used to cover gaps left after homeowners have applied for state (up to $25,000 per property) and county (up to $20,000 per property) grants. Both the state and county have recently increased the size of their grants.
“We’ve seen over the years through this program that costs have only gone up,” Ms. McCarron said. “The cost of materials, labor, excavation, pretty much across the board. So, that’s why some of these programs are bumping up the funding available.” She suggested the town do the same.
She also recommended forming a new zone, immediately adjacent to water bodies, where wastewater takes less than two years to end up in groundwater or surface water. Since it’s the most sensitive zone, providing $30,000 per installation was her suggestion.
“Improvements in wastewater treatment in these areas will have the greatest and most immediate impact on water quality improvement,” she reasoned. “The existing district is around 11,000 parcels, and the new district is around 4,000 parcels.”
Of course, these properties are also likely high value due to their proximity to water, so the incentives will likely help wealthy homeowners. Perhaps as a balance, Ms. McCarron suggested increasing the incentive to low-and-moderate-income-qualifying homeowners to maximum amounts in any district.
“The new maximums would be up to $35,000 if you’re in the new priority area, up to $25,000 if you’re in the existing water protection district, and $20,000 maximum for any other place in town.” In other words, instead of two zones, there will now be three, with $5,000 incentive increases for each.
“If we want to get the biggest water improvement per dollar we spend, it’s doing it on properties that are adjacent to these water bodies,” agreed Councilman Tom Flight, but he sought to push it even further. “One thing I would love to consider in the future is full funding for properties that are adjacent to these water bodies. A lot of property owners are property rich, cash poor, and that’s what’s prohibiting them from doing this.”
The board also agreed that information about the program will soon be translated into Spanish.
The town’s septic improvement program is funded through the community preservation fund transfer tax; 20 percent of that tax may be allotted to water improvement projects. The program has provided the town $16 million since its inception in 2017, allowing for nearly a thousand I/A septic systems to be installed.
