Best Practice Action 21.5
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Septic Systems No. 21
Implement an environmentally sound management program for decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 5
Create a program to finance septic system upgrades.
- University of MN's Onsite Sewage Treatment Program - financial options.
- See MN Pollution Control Agency resources relating to onsite systems - also called subsurface treatment systems (SSTS) - including lists of licensed contractors.
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Participate in a county, state or federal program or use one-time grant or loan financing. |
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Base homeowner upgrade repayments on the value of the property rather than on the credit-worthiness of the owner. |
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Use a city revenue bond, repayable through taxpayers' property taxes. |
Who's doing it
Farmington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: N/A
Implementation details:
Farmington residents, partnering with Dakota County, have several financial assistance programs to help with failing septic systems.
-Low Income Grant: Residents who meet income eligibilty requirements can apply for a low-income grant where hoemowners could be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost to replace or repair failing septic systems.
-Septic System Tax Assessment Program: Dakota County has a loan program to ease financial burden to homeowners who are upgrading a failing septic system. The loan is an assessment on the property taxes.
-Low Interest Loans: The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District has low interest loans available for upgrading failing septic systems.
-City Wastewater Connections: Funding is available for those with failing septic systems who meet income limits to make connections to city sewer standards.
-Low Income Grant: Residents who meet income eligibilty requirements can apply for a low-income grant where hoemowners could be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost to replace or repair failing septic systems.
-Septic System Tax Assessment Program: Dakota County has a loan program to ease financial burden to homeowners who are upgrading a failing septic system. The loan is an assessment on the property taxes.
-Low Interest Loans: The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District has low interest loans available for upgrading failing septic systems.
-City Wastewater Connections: Funding is available for those with failing septic systems who meet income limits to make connections to city sewer standards.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jared Johnson (City Staff) | jjohnson@farmingtonmn.gov | 651-280-6824
Partners: Dakota County
Prairie Island Indian Community -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2010
Implementation details:
All residential septic systems are funded by IHS.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Leya Charles (City Staff) | Leya.Charles@piic.org | 6513854115
Partners:
Burnsville -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The City has Policies 5.035 and 5.036 which outline options for connecting to existing trunk mains in CSAH 5 and that outline the conditions under which street and utility improvemens will be provided in SW Burnsville (area zoned R1A, Single Family Rural Residential) Policy 5.036 allows property owners to elect to have the connection charge assessed to their property to allow for payment over a period of up to 10 years to help offest costs. Property owners may either undertake major repairs/renovation ot SSTS systems or connect to public utilities. The city will not order connection to the municipal system unless a documented health risk is determined or if ordered by MPCA.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Sue Bast (City staff) | basts@ci.burnsville.mn.us | 952-895-4524
Partners:
Fergus Falls -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
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Implementation details:
There are currently less than 75 homes in the city limits that have private septic systems. When these systems fail, they are being hooked up into the city’s septic system.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
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For more information contact:
Len Taylor (City staff) | len.taylor@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us | 218-332-5418
Partners:
Rochester -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
Rochesters Water Quality Protection Program started in 1998. It provides a financial subsidy to reduce city sewer and water costs to the property owner. it has been used in 31 subdivisions to eliminate 1500 septic systems and provide city sewer service. No payment or interest charges are required until a date 3 years after a project is awarded to serve your neighborhood. Thereafter, uniform payments can be made over a period of 10 years at 7.5% annually on the unpaid balance. No connection is required until a date 5 years after a project is awarded to serve your neighborhood.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/publicworks/hottopics/lenwood%20heights/lenwood%202008%20Presentation.pdf
For more information contact:
Tony Benson (City staff) | tbenson@rpu.org | 507-280-1534
Partners:
Albert Lea -
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Implementation details:
Property owners are eligible for three low interest loan programs to upgrade their septic system - through the USDA, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Freeborn County.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Jerry Gabrielatos (City staff) | jgabrielatos@ci.albertlea.mn.us | 507-377-4316
Partners: Freeborn County
Austin -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
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Implementation details:
Mower County has a low interest loan (3%) availablefor failing system replacement/upgrades. This program is repayablethrough property owner's tax assessment.
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For more information contact:
Janet Anderson (Community volunteer) | janetanderson2840@gmail.com | 5072190680
Partners:
Granite Falls -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
The County provides a sceptic replacement program that residents within city limits who still have septic systems are encouraged to use. Recently, for one example, one home owner's system that was recently reviewed by city staff discovered that their septic system connected to the city's wastewater outflow line. The homeowner was informed this needs to be corrected for environmental reasons and was informed about the county's financing program. In the event additional financing is needed, the city would assist. The city in addition, provides loans for private water and sewerline replacement.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
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For more information contact:
Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Partners:
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Occurs for tribal citizens on tribal land under certain circumstance, every AI is eligible for 1 septic system which is possible by EPA funding through IHS. Leech Lake is working on putting stony point campground to join city system.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Brandy Toft (City staff) | air@lldrm.org | 218-335-7429
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Steven Oscarson, Environmental Specialist, MN Pollution Control Agency: 507-206-2604, steven.oscarson@state.mn.us, https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/septic-systems