Volusia County Septic Upgrade Incentive Program Property Owners Information

Program Overview for Property Owners
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 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 existing 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
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Households must meet all screening criteria to be eligible for septic upgrade grants of up to $10,000.
Property owners in the PFA will hire a registered septic system contractor and 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 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 grant limit per septic system is $10,000.
- 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.
Property Owners Required Documents
- The contractor will provide the Property Owner Application Form to the property owner for completion. The contractor has to provide this form to the County in order to apply for the program. See Property Owner Application Form
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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.
Property owners in the PFA will hire 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.
The contractor should:
- Be a registered septic system contractor here and/or state licensed plumber here.
- Be registered as a Volusia County vendor here.
- Secure a completed Property Owner Application Form for authorization by the property owner to participate in the grant program. See Property Owner Application Form
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).
$10,000 per septic system. The funds will be directly issued to the contractor once the project is completed and approved by the County.
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.
The contractor will notify the property owner if the project on their property has been approved to begin.
Volusia County Environmental Management
Thomas C Kelly Administration Building
123 W Indiana Ave.
Room 202
DeLand, FL 32720
8AM to 5PM
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
For property owner education regarding septic systems, please visit here, https://fowaonsite.com/homeowner_education
Program Partners

Volusia County Department of Health

Department of Environmental Protection
FORWARD is administering the Volusia County Septic Upgrade Incentive Program on behalf of Volusia County
and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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