Suffolk County Homeowners: Your Cesspool Upgrade Could Be Free Under the 2024 Water Protection Program

Suffolk County is experiencing a water quality crisis that’s been decades in the making. With more than 360,000 homes relying on outdated cesspools and septic systems that do not properly treat wastewater to remove nitrogen, the time for action has never been more urgent. Fortunately, Suffolk County’s 2024 Water Protection Program offers unprecedented financial assistance to help homeowners upgrade to advanced treatment units that can dramatically reduce nitrogen pollution.

The Scale of the Problem

Suffolk County is experiencing a decline in the quality of its surface water due to excessive contaminants—particularly nitrogen generated from approximately 380,000 individual septic systems and cesspool installations. This nitrogen pollution has led to eutrophication of the County’s waters including excessive blooms of algae and proliferation of harmful algal blooms, loss of dissolved oxygen, poor water clarity, and ultimately degradation of our coastal marine ecosystems.

The environmental impact extends beyond aesthetics. Nitrogen pollution in the groundwater, in particular, has fueled harmful algal blooms, degraded water quality, and threatened public health and ecosystems. Since Long Island is built on sandy soil, contaminants easily seep into the sole source aquifer. This underground reservoir supplies 100% of the island’s drinking water.

Revolutionary Financial Assistance Available Now

The 2024 Water Protection Program represents the most comprehensive funding initiative Suffolk County has ever seen for cesspool upgrades. $20 million from the State’s Septic Replacement Program will help address more than 2,000 substandard or failing septic systems and cesspools, with additional state funding bringing the total to $30 million in new funding.

Under the expanded program, eligible property owners can be reimbursed 50 percent of eligible costs up to $10,000 for the installation of a conventional system, or up to 75 percent of eligible costs up to $25,000 for the installation of an enhanced septic system. This means homeowners installing advanced nitrogen-reducing systems could receive up to $25,000 in grants—potentially covering the entire cost of their upgrade.

Suffolk County has also secured additional local funding. The Suffolk County Septic Improvement Program provides up to $10,000 base grant. There is also up to an additional $10,000 that can be awarded to a grantee that installs a pressurized shallow drain field leaching system ($5,000) and/or toward the unit installation for low to moderate incomes eligible applicants ($5,000).

Advanced Treatment Units: The Technology That’s Changing Everything

The heart of Suffolk County’s water protection strategy lies in Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A OWTS), commonly known as advanced treatment units. “Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems” (I/A OWTS) can remove upwards of 90% of nitrogen from wastewater.

They are like mini sewer treatment plant for your home. The most popular systems approved for use in Suffolk County include FujiClean and HydroAction units. As of June, 2019, field testing in Suffolk County has established FujiClean as the most effective technology in Suffolk County for minimizing harmful nitrogen output.

These systems offer remarkable performance improvements over traditional cesspools. Fuji Clean CEN units produce a consistent effluent quality with a pollutant removal ratio of around 97% – 98% and nitrogen reducing ratio of 75% or better. For homeowners, this means a 1.2 kWh/day power draw, making them surprisingly energy-efficient, and they operate at “library quiet” 39 decibels.

Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The program targets specific geographic areas where property owners are eligible to participate based on the following factors: Presence of a sole-source aquifer used for drinking water. Known water quality impairment linked to failing septic systems and the ability for septic system upgrades to mitigate water quality impairments.

For Suffolk County residents, the eligibility requirements are straightforward. The residence must be single family, owner-occupied year round. The residence cannot be connected to a sewer system or located within a proposed sewer district. Additionally, participating counties are responsible for reviewing and evaluating the applications and determine financial assistance awards based on the program criteria. The following considerations are made: property’s location in relation to a waterbody, impacts to groundwater used as drinking water, and the condition of the property owner’s current septic system.

Why Choose Quality Cesspool for Your Upgrade

When it comes to navigating Suffolk County’s complex funding programs and ensuring proper installation of advanced treatment units, experience matters. Quality Cesspool has been part of the Long Island community. Our company has been family-owned and operated for four generations, delivering dependable cesspool and septic system services that homeowners and businesses rely on.

As a trusted provider of Cesspool Services Suffolk County, Quality Cesspool brings unmatched local expertise to every project. Customer satisfaction drives everything we do at Quality Cesspool. From the moment you call us to the post-service follow-up, we ensure that your experience is seamless and stress-free. Our transparent pricing, prompt responses, and professional demeanor have helped us build a robust client base that values our commitment to quality and integrity.

The company’s commitment to staying current with technology is evident in their approach to advanced treatment systems. Using the latest technology for efficient service, Quality Cesspool can help homeowners navigate both the technical aspects of system selection and the complex grant application process.

The Long-Term Benefits

Beyond the immediate environmental benefits, upgrading to an advanced treatment unit represents a smart investment. Newer systems can last decades without needing to be replaced or repaired. With Suffolk County states that the average replacement, including engineering services, can cost, on average, $21,900, the current grant programs could potentially cover the entire cost.

For homeowners concerned about ongoing maintenance, advanced treatment units are designed for simplicity. Fuji Clean CEN units are designed for efficient and effective semi-annual maintenance, the majority of which is accomplished with a simple turning of control dials that purge heavy bio-film growth from the treatment media. The system is designed for efficient storage of sludge, which typically needs to be pumped once every two to five years depending on use and influent strength.

Act Now: Time-Sensitive Opportunity

Suffolk County’s 2024 Water Protection Program represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for homeowners to upgrade their wastewater systems at little to no cost. With $3 to $4 billion in new water quality funding that will be evenly allocated for sewer projects and upgrading outdated cesspools and septic systems with high-tech nitrogen-removing systems potentially available through future initiatives, the momentum for change has never been stronger.

However, funding is limited and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We offer rapid emergency services, typically arriving on-site within 30 minutes in Long Island, and Quality Cesspool’s expertise can help ensure your application is complete and competitive.

The transition to advanced treatment units isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting Long Island’s most precious resource for future generations. With unprecedented funding available and proven technology ready for installation, Suffolk County homeowners have everything they need to make this critical upgrade. Contact Quality Cesspool today to learn how you can participate in this transformative program and potentially upgrade your system at no cost to you.