Volusia County
Septic Upgrade Incentive Program Contractors Information

The contractors hired by the property owners in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) of DeLeon Springs are eligible for this program. Please follow these instructions on how to search a property in the PFA.

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 or 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. Please follow these instructions on how to search for registered septic system contractors. Please follow these instructions on how to search for state-licensed plumbers. 
• 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 (open and download form for fillable PDF).
• Not begin work prior to issuance of a PO. Work commenced before the PO is issued will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Yes. Work must be done within the Priority Focus Area in DeLeon Springs. Please follow these instructions on how to search a property in the PFA.

Visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website for additional information on the DeLeon Springs Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP).

The Springs BMAP requirements for existing systems in DeLeon, Gemini, and Volusia Blue BMAPs will require owners of existing systems to upgrade their system in areas subject to the OSTDS remediation policy in the BMAP when the system needs a repair or modification permit. The date for when these requirements will become effective is not yet known, but DEP will communicate this to stakeholders as soon as it is established. 
In short, at this time, no property owner is required to replace their conventional system with a nitrogen-reducing system. The grant incentivizes those who choose to make this change ahead of the DEP mandated requirement date, which is yet to be established.

Funds are available only 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 (ATUs)
• 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, https://floridadep.gov/water/onsite-sewage/content/product-listings-and-approval-requirements

Yes, more than one installation per site is allowed.

The contractor must submit the following:

• An initial application in the FORWARD portal that 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 representing the installation prior to the inspection
• A copy of the inspection report issued by the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County 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. The contractor will receive payment within four to six weeks after approval of installation. Please email Denise Colflesh,  Volusia County Environmental Management, at dcolflesh@volusia.org with questions regarding approved payments.

Yes, non-profit owned and operated sites can apply for the septic upgrade incentive as long as their status on Sunbiz shows in good standing (Active Status). 

Yes, the maximum amount of the award is $10,000 per septic system. Each award is based on the total cost of the septic installation. For example, an installation which qualified under the grant but was a total cost to the property owner of $8,500 would only be eligible for $8,5000 in incentives. The incentive cannot exceed the total cost of installation.

This program is limited in funding from the State of Florida 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 Center

123 W. Indiana Ave.,

Room 202

DeLand, FL 32720

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes, within each application under the “Address and Contact” tab, you can list an email that will receive notifications specific to that installation address/application.

If you are adding additional project installation addresses/applications, please watch this video, which contains general information and information specific to multiple installation addresses at the timestamp of 4:50. YouTube – How To Apply-Contractors.

Yes. All FORWARD tutorials are launched in YouTube and the viewer can utilize YouTube’s embedded settings to change the subtitles to any of the languages available within YouTube.

While viewing the video, you can navigate to the settings icon and then select “Subtitles/CC”  and then you will click the “Auto-translate” feature to select the language you need. 

No, rental properties may qualify as long as the property owner consents.