Help for Septic Users

-Submitted by Kristin Mielcarek
Canaan Valley Institute

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Funds are available in Frederick County under the Bay Restoration Fund “Flush Tax” program to help households with septic systems upgrade to the best available current technology in order to reduce nitrogen levels in ground water that discharges to area streams that flow downstream to the Chesapeake Bay.  A joint application from the regional nonprofit Canaan Valley Institute and the Frederick County Health Department resulted in a grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Presently (September, 2007) eight applications have been submitted from Frederick County homeowners, four of whose new nitrogen reducing systems have been installed.  Photos below show some steps in the process of such an installation near Middletown in the Catoctin Creek watershed. 

Project sponsors anticipate that available funding under the current grant will finance roughly 65 new systems over the coming 2 years. 

Several local septic installers are involved and signed up for certification to install the systems.  Other local installers can also participate in the work.   All of the manufacturers of the new systems will provide on site training to local installers who do not have to be certified prior to submitting a bid for installation. 

For additional information, contact Kristin Mielcarek with the Canaan Valley Institute at kristin.mielcarek@canaanvi.org or Dave Gatrell with the Environmental Health office of the Frederick County Health Department  at dgatrell@fredco-md.net or 301.600.3157 .  Click here for the Information Guide on the Bay Restoration Fund’s On-site Sewage Disposal System.