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MARIETTA -- Because of a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, homes across Washington County can address septic concerns at little to no cost.
"This grant allows people who have failed septic systems to get help with covering up to all of the cost of replacing those," said Washington County Health Commissioner Dick Wittberg. "You can be earning significant money and still qualify for at least a 50/50 split of the cost."
The $270,000 grant from the Ohio EPA's Water Pollution Control Loan Fund must be spent within the next year and so Wittberg and Josh Lane, director of environmental health, hope more households contact them to see if they qualify for aid.
"A lot of times people won't call in because they're worried that they won't qualify," said Lane. "But we're not doing this to try and police people. It's all in an effort to help them get their systems fixed, and this round a lot more people, even into the upper middle class, would qualify for help."
Lane broke down a table explaining household incomes and the qualifying aid each would receive.
"Homes below the 100 percent poverty level would receive 100 percent funding, folks in the 200 percent range would receive 85 percent funding and folks in the 300 percent range would receive half of the funding to replace or repair their system," he said.
Poverty guidelines are handed down by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"We've done this program before in 2011 and 2013 and we know there are still systems out there that are failing," said Lane. "Some may just need a secondary treatment added or a new tank, it really depends on the system."
But replacing a system can cost between $7,000 and $10,000.
"People don't have that kind of cash on hand," he said. "We realize that and want to help."
Wittberg added that while the funds come from a loan program, the monies will not need to be repaid.
"They'll never have to pay this back," he said. "We researched this and applied for the grant as a service to the community."
He said only three households have taken advantage of the funds so far, one near Macksburg, one in Warren Township and one in Germantown.
"The process isn't one that just happens in one week though," explained Lane. "Usually homeowners have an idea that something is wrong, they see a wet spot in the yard that's dark or they smell it."
Another indicator of a failing system is discharge into ditches along roadways.
"That sewage contains coliform bacteria" said Lane. "Your animals and children could be playing in that and that's a problem, it's also a public health issue for roadway workers."
The pair said systems currently are only assessed following nuisance complaints or at the request of home inspectors during the sale of a home.
"But this is an opportunity for people to be proactive and take care of this public health issue," said Wittberg.
Following a call or in-person discussion with Lane or Wittberg, Lane will do an on-site assessment to scope out the project. Then the homeowner must complete the permit process with the health department to screen their income and verify that the home is not a rental.
If the home qualifies for aid, Lane will assess what the system needs, design the system and set out the scope for bid. Dependant on weather and the winning contractor's schedule new systems and repairs will take place by fall of 2017.
Neither knew how many septic systems are currently in the county, but estimated that at least 15,000 households rely on the independent sewage treatment option.
"While we can't take care of all of those now, we can certainly help with the worst ones," said Wittberg.
"It's a program that I believe will continue to roll around every couple of years if residents take advantage of it," said Lane. "If we run out of monies this round then we'll keep those who have applied on a list to be the first in line for the next available funds."
To find out of you qualify for assistance call 740-374-2782 or stop by the health department at 342 Muskingum Drive, Marietta.