Low-income Eastern and Southeastern Kentuckians who need septic system repairs or replacement may now be eligible for financial assistance for that work.
The assistance is available to homeowners with septic systems who live at 75% or below the poverty line set by the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development and have the electric bill in their name.
Septic systems coordinator for Eastern Kentucky P.R.I.D.E. at the Center for Rural Development Crystal Cox said the program is a part of the organization’s effort to help keep communities and waterways clean.
“I've had so many people that it's not that they want to live with a failing septic system,” Cox said. “Nobody wants to live with waste coming back into their home or with waste going into their yard that is creating an odor for their neighbors. They don't want that, but they haven't had a way to repair it.”
The assistance is available in 42 counties, including Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe.
Since 1997, Cox said the program has installed more than 7,000 septic systems and served an excess of 26,000 homes on sewer projects.
“Septic work is not cheap, and it's something people want to be able to fix it. But they just don't have the funding a lot of times to be able to fix it because it is expensive work,” Cox said. “We're glad to be able to step in and offer this program again.”
The program had previously been dormant for several years, but the group recently received $2.5 million as part of congressional action. Cox said this funding could help between 200 and 300 homes, and the Center for Rural Development will fund septic work until the money is exhausted.
“What this does is allow us to provide assistance for low-income homeowners who need repairs, replacements or even whole new systems for their septic system that helps keep our neighborhoods and communities cleaner by making sure that waste is going where it should instead of leaking out into our land and into our creeks,” Cox said.
In addition to assistance with paying for expensive septic repairs, the program can also help homeowners hook onto existing sewer systems.
Cox said some counties, like those that have experienced flooding in recent years, may have a higher need for septic work.
“Something that people may not realize is severe flooding like that also damages septic systems, so those counties have a much greater need than counties that haven't experienced those kind of natural disasters. So there may be a higher concentration of need in those communities than in others,” Cox said.
Signs that a septic system might need work include the tank coming out of the ground, the land around the tank being especially soggy and stinky, and waste coming back into the home. The program does not cover septic tank pumping, which is considered regular maintenance.
“We work very closely with the local health departments,” Cox said. “The health departments have environmentalists on staff, and that's who we work with to figure out what a homeowner needs for their system.”
Cox said those who need their septic systems pumped may be able to access assistance through their health department.
The applications are approved on a first come, first serve basis. Cox encourages people who need the program to apply as soon as possible and note if they have applied in the past.
