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Health department asks commissioners to approve application for Clean Water SRF grant for septic repairs
Summary
Beaufort County health staff asked commissioners to approve a Clean Water State Revolving Fund pilot application that would provide up to $250,000 for 100% forgivable loans (principal forgiveness) to help low- and moderate-income households replace failing septic systems. Staff said the grant, if awarded, would be 100% forgivable and administered
Beaufort County health staff asked commissioners Tuesday for permission to apply for a new Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) pilot that would provide forgivable funding to help replace failing decentralized wastewater systems (septic systems).
Stacy, the health-department presenter, told commissioners the pilot allows counties to request up to $250,000 for 100% principal forgiveness to cover replacement or repair costs for qualifying households. Staff said the Clean Water program uses a state median household income cutoff; for this program staff cited a 2023 state median household income of $69,009.04 and said households under 100% of that figure would qualify under the pilot’s rules.
“The first priority would be those participating in Medicare, SNAP, or under 80% of state median income; we would like to apply for the $250,000, which is the maximum you can apply for for 100% principal forgiveness,” Stacy said.
Staff described the local need: septic-system replacement costs have risen since 2013 and since COVID; a basic system that previously cost about $3,000 now costs $8,000–$10,000 or more. The county has identified clusters of candidate homes through prior community work, and staff said community partners — including Sound Rivers and the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) — have pledged support; SERCAP offered to prepare the grant application at no charge.
If the county is awarded funds, a 2% closing fee to the Clean Water Trust Fund would apply (approximately $5,000 on a $250,000 drawdown) and Mideast Commission has offered to administer the program for up to 10% of grant funds. Staff asked the board to adopt the resolution authorizing the county manager to submit the CWSRF application; commissioners approved the resolution.
The board discussed alternatives such as low-interest county loans, but staff warned that running a loan program produces administrative overhead and increased financial risk if borrowers default. Staff emphasized the pilot’s principal-forgiveness structure as the most practical option to get imminent repairs done for households that cannot otherwise afford them.
