Volusia County
Septic Upgrade Incentive Program
Program Overview
Volusia County, through a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant, was approved for $2.2 million to provide rebates to property owners for up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) per septic system upgrade using registered septic system contractors and state licensed plumbers at a single or two-family residence or mobile home on a lot less than one acre. Upgrades of conventional septic systems in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) are intended to reduce nitrogen contributions to DeLeon Springs.
The Program offers rebates only in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs. The rebates are available for payment directly to certified septic system installers and licensed plumbers retained by property owners to upgrade existing systems and must be pre‐approved by the County and permitted by Department of Health, prior to the commencement of work.
NEED SUPPORT?
If you need help with this online application, please email us at Volusia-support@forwardplatform.zendesk.com or call us at 1-855-582-3973.
Eligibility Requirements
Households must meet all screening criteria to be eligible for septic upgrade grants of up to $10,000.
Contractors for property owners in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs.
Property owners in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs should familiarize themselves with the program.
When a property owner in the PFA selects a qualifying septic system upgrade using a registered septic system contractor and state licensed plumber, the CONTRACTOR can apply for the grant on behalf of the property owner to offset the cost of the installation of the qualifying system.
A list of the eligible features achieving enhanced treatment of nitrogen is available on the Department of Health (DOH) website http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental‐health/onsite‐sewage/products/index.html
- Single or two-family residence.
- Property owner must apply/consent.
- Current on all property taxes.
- The onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) must be existing and conventional.
- The grant limit per septic system is $10,000.
- Commercial properties are not eligible.
- Residential new construction is not eligible.
- Work must be done on within the DeLeon Springs Priority Focus Area (PFA) and
- Must be a single or two-family residence or mobile home.
- All septic system upgrades authorized for this project will be performed by a registered septic system contractor and/or state-licensed plumber.
- The contractor must be a registered vendor with Volusia County.
- Registered septic system contractors can be found here.
- State-licensed plumbers can be found here.
- All work must be permitted and approved by the Volusia County Department of Health (DOH).
Work must be to upgrade existing systems and must be pre‐approved by the County, and permitted by DOH prior to the commencement of work.
- Funds are only available for installations of nitrogen reducing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) enhancements in an eligible single or two‐family residence with an existing conventional (non‐nitrogen‐reducing) system.
- The approved nitrogen reducing systems are:
In-Ground Nitrogen Reducing Biofilters (INRBs)
Nitrogen-Reducing (NSF-245 certified) Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU)
Nitrogen-Reducing Performance-Based Treatment Systems (NRPBTS)
- Commercial properties and residential new construction are not eligible.
Required Documents
The following documents will be used to verify the above eligibility:
- Registered septic system contractor and/or state-licensed plumbers will submit proof of State Registration and State Business License number
- Proof of Volusia County Vendor Registration
- Property Owner Application Form
- Copy of the issued Permit from the Volusia County Department of Health
- Estimated Cost/Quote of the full project
- A copy of the invoice to the property owner showing the address of the residence, identifying the equipment, materials and labor performed, and the property owner’s share of the cost (reflecting the reduction of the incentive amount requested);
- A photograph representative of the installation prior to the inspection
- A copy of the inspection report issued by the Volusia County Department of Health showing satisfactory completion of the work
- Any other documentation requested by the County to substantiate performance
The County will not process the invoice until all documentation required above is received and approved.
You can store documents in your profile so that you can easily find them to include in your applications. These file formats are supported: .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .xls, and .xlsx
Frequently Asked Questions
FORWARD has extensive experience administering assistance programs across the nation and can process applications at scale, prevent fraud, securely process payments, and provide reporting that meets funder requirements.
Contractors for property owners in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs.
Property owners in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs should familiarize themselves with the program.
When a property owner in the PFA selects a qualifying septic system upgrade using a registered septic system contractor and state licensed plumber, the CONTRACTOR can apply for the grant on behalf of the property owner to offset the cost of the installation of the qualifying system.
A contractor must:
- Be a registered septic system contractor here and/or state licensed plumber here.
- Be registered as a Volusia County vendor here.
- Complete an application and provide all required attachments, permits, and documentation.
- Secure a completed Property Owner Application Form for authorization by the property owner to participate in the grant program. See Property Owner Application Form
- No work prior to issuance of a PO will be eligible for reimbursement.
Yes. Work must be done within the Priority Focus Area in DeLeon Springs.
Visit Florida Department of Environmental Protection for addition information on the Deleon Springs Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP).
Funds are only available for installations of nitrogen reducing OSTDS enhancements on an eligible property with an existing conventional (non‐nitrogen‐reducing) system.
The following are approved nitrogen reducing systems:
- In-Ground Nitrogen-Reducing Biofilters (INRBs)
- Nitrogen-Reducing (NSF-245 certified) Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU)
- Nitrogen-Reducing Performance-Based Treatment Systems (NRPBTS)
A list of the eligible features achieving enhanced treatment of nitrogen is available on the Department of Health (DOH) website http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental‐health/onsite‐sewage/products/index.html
The contractor must submit the following:
- An initial application in the FORWARD portal which has been reviewed and approved to proceed.
- A copy of the invoice to the property owner showing the address of the residence, identifying the equipment, materials and labor performed, and the homeowner’s share of the cost (reflecting the reduction of the incentive amount requested)
- A photograph representative of the installation prior to the inspection
- A copy of the inspection report issued by the county health department showing satisfactory completion of the work
- Any other documentation requested by the County to substantiate performance.
The County will not process the invoice until all documentation required above is received and approved. Contractor will receive payment within 4 -6 weeks after approval of installation. Please email Denise Colflesh, with the Volusia County Finance Office at dcolflesh@volusia.org for questions regarding approved payments.
$10,000 per septic system.
This Program is limited in funding from the State and will conclude when funding is no longer available or by contract end date, whichever comes first.
Volusia County Environmental Management
Thomas C Kelly Administration Building
123 W Indiana Ave.
Room 202
DeLand, FL 32720
8AM to 5PM
FORWARD Online Application Tutorials
FORWARD Online Application Tutorials
Program Partners
FORWARD is administering the Volusia County Septic Upgrade Incentive Program on behalf of Volusia County
and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
ABOUT FORWARD
FORWARD is the leading Integrated Program Administration solution that incorporates all essential components, people and technology into a single streamlined workflow to effectively, securely, and equitably administer critical resources to help communities thrive.