Volusia County
Septic Upgrade Incentive Program Property Owners Information

Property owners in the PFA (instructions on how to search in the PFA) will hire a registered septic system contractor or state-licensed plumber. The CONTRACTOR will apply for the grant on behalf of the property owner to offset the cost of the installation of the qualifying system. 

A property owner will select the contractor in the same way they would for any home renovation/repair. Property owners should be careful to hire only licensed, insured contractors. Links to resources are below. The contractor should:

• Be a registered septic system contractor here or a state-licensed plumber here. These sites will allow you to search for contractors by county, however the contractor may not be familiar with the program. Please follow these instructions on how to search for a registered septic system contractor. Please follow these instructions on how to search for a state-licensed plumber. 
• 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).

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

Visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website for addition 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.

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 that 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 the contract end date, whichever comes first.

Yes, more than one installation per site is allowed.

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). 

The contractor will notify the property owner if the project on their property has been approved to begin. 

If you have additional questions, please email us at Volusia-support@forwardplatform.zendesk.com or call us at 855-582-3973 for more information.

The contractor you choose will provide you with a written quote to install a nitrogen-reducing system that includes a notation of the amount of the grant (up to $10,000) the contractor will be applying for to offset the cost of the system. The remainder of any septic system installation costs is the property owner’s responsibility.

The property owner located in the PFA will select a qualifying septic system upgrade using a registered septic system contractor or state-licensed plumber. The CONTRACTOR will 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 Florida Department of Health (DOH) website https://floridadep.gov/water/onsite-sewage/content/product-listings-and-approval-requirements

For property owner education regarding nitrogen-reducing septic systems, please visit https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Nitrogen_Reducing_Systems_for%20_Springs_Protection_0.pdf

In 2016, the Florida Legislature identified DeLeon Spring as an impaired second magnitude “Outstanding Florida Spring” that requires additional protections to ensure conservation and restoration for future generations. To achieve the water quality restoration targets established in the TMDL, the DeLeon Spring Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) was developed by the FDEP and contains enforceable sets of projects and management practices to reduce nitrogen pollution that is impacting the spring. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has determined that septic tanks are a major source of nitrogen pollution in DeLeon Spring and, as a result, has implemented a septic system remediation plan as part of the DeLeon Spring BMAP. The law requires specific actions regarding both conventional and new septic systems located near DeLeon Spring within the area known as Priority Focus Area (PFA).

• DeLeon Spring Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
• DeLeon Spring Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP)
• FDEP Interactive Map showing PFA areas  

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has approved Volusia County for a $2.2 million grant to provide rebates to property owners for up to $10,000 per septic system upgrade using registered septic system contractors and state licensed plumbers at a single- or two-family residence or mobile home, or non-profit owned and operated site. Upgrades of conventional septic systems in the Priority Focus Area (PFA) are intended to reduce nitrogen contributions to DeLeon Springs.

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