Sewer Incentive Grant
Sewer Connection Incentive Program
Is your home on a private septic system and the Town of Oxford sewer line runs by your property? If so, we invite you to learn more about Oxford’s Sewer Connection Incentive Program. The program provides an easy and affordable solution to septic owners in our service area who are ready to make the connection to our safe, reliable public wastewater system. The Oxford Wastewater system reaches several neighborhoods in the Route 26, King Street, Pleasant Street, and Welchville areas. (Please call if you are unsure if your property is eligible)
The Town of Oxford is working to protect and enhance the quality of our water resources, improve wastewater service, and eliminate environmental problems. The Sewer Connection Incentive Program was developed to help eliminate water quality and service problems from failing septic systems by replacing them with a safe, sanitary, public sewer system.
About the program:
The Sewer Connection Incentive Program provides for the construction of sanitary sewers while offering forgivable grants to homeowners.
The program will start on September 1, 2023, and run through August 31, 2024, or until the funds are depleted.
Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
Why is this program important:
Failing septic systems are a potential source of increased pollution to our water resources.
Failing septic systems often don’t fully treat waste, which can then migrate to a nearby stream, lake, or shallow drinking water well.
In extreme cases, failed systems can result in untreated waste in yards, creating a major health hazard.
How the program works:
The Town of Oxford has constructed sanitary sewer extensions in the street and brought a lateral line – a pipe from the sewer main – near your private property line.
If you decide to connect to the sewer system, you will need to hire a contractor/plumber.
The contractor will quote the fee to connect the lateral line to your house plumbing and decommission the old septic system.
The homeowner then submits the quote to the Town along with the grant application.
Once the application is approved, the contractor completes the connection and the Town pays the contractor.
Are you required to connect to the new system:
Unless your septic disposal system is failing, you are NOT REQUIRED to connect at this time.
In the future, as state, federal, and local regulations become more stringent, connecting to a sanitary sewer may become mandatory.
If you do not connect, a STAND-BY FEE will be charged if the lateral connection is at your property.
Costs:
The Town of Oxford offers a forgivable grant for all approved costs through its Sewer Connection Incentive Program.
The Sewer Connection Program has limited funds. When the Funds are gone the program will expire. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
Once connected to the public sewer, you will receive a bill every three months for your sewer usage. A typical quarterly sewer bill for 2023 is about $150.00 for single-family residences in town with actual costs determined by your number of users and water usage.
Funding for this program was established in 2018.
Come in and speak to the Town Office when you are ready to start a grant application for your connection to the public sewer.