Resources & FAQs

Application Review Process

The Septic-to-Sewer Connection Program will improve water quality by converting up to 6,000 private septic systems to public sewer connections over the next 30 years, or approximately 200 per year. Residents in certain communities may be eligible to apply for a program to help reduce the costs of converting from private septic tanks to the County sewer system.

To prioritize the work, the Department of Public Works evaluates community applications and then ranks eligible communities according to the criteria below. The County will prepare preliminary estimates of property owner costs, County subsidy, and State grant funding for the highest-ranking communities. The Department of Public Works will send a summary of the community ranking within 30 calendar days of end of the application period. Community applications remain valid for three years.

Environmental and Health
(45 total maximum points)
Checkmark for Criteria
Pounds of total nitrogen removed per year
15
Checkmark for Criteria
Properties located in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area
15
Checkmark for Criteria
Properties located in On-site Wastewater Management Problem Areas
15
Cost (derived from the total project cost)
(30 total maximum points)
Checkmark for Criteria
$ per pound of total nitrogen removed per year
15
Checkmark for Criteria
$ per house connected
15
Availability of Existing Infrastructure
(15 total maximum points)
Checkmark for Criteria
Distance from the project area to existing County sewer system infrastructure
15
Engineering Considerations
(10 total maximum points)
Checkmark for Criteria
Number of vacant lots
5
Checkmark for Criteria
Number of households that cannot flow to the collection system by gravity
5