Board approves waiver of Gloucester sewer-application fees tied to HRSD septic-to-sewer grant program

Gloucester County supervisors voted Oct. 7 to adopt an ordinance waiving county sewer application fees for property owners who participate in a Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) grant program designed to reduce nonpoint source pollution by incentivizing connections to public sewer.

Katie Lague, director of public utilities, told the board HRSD received a $1.18 million Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant intended to reimburse residential property owners who properly abandon septic systems and connect to sewer in targeted areas of Gloucester Point. HRSD agreed to waive its facility charges and is encouraging localities to waive their separate application or facility fees so eligible homeowners may receive up to a $5,000 reimbursement under the grant after final inspection and acceptance.

Under the proposed local ordinance, county application/facility charges for connection to public sewer would be waived for owners who participate in the HRSD grant program. Lague said the county would continue to collect required HRSD fees at the time of application and handle the administrative intake; HRSD would administer the $5,000 reimbursement where qualified. The county’s waiver would apply only to applicants who actually participate in HRSD’s program and complete a qualifying connection.

Public comment was mixed. Some residents opposed using local revenue or subsidizing connections, arguing the county’s utilities and rate structure already face fiscal stress; others urged the waiver, arguing conversion of septic systems to sewer reduces pollution and benefits creeks and the Bay. Nathan Brown of the Ware District questioned whether the utility could afford to waive fees that support system maintenance; Dwight Matthews, representing Hayes, submitted written support and said he planned to participate.

During the vote recorded in the meeting, one supervisor voted “no” while the remainder supported the ordinance. The motion carried; supervisors discussed that HRSD grant funds, not county general funds, would fund the HRSD reimbursements and that the county’s role is to waive the local fee and administer applications for participants.

Staff said HRSD’s initial GIS review suggested up to roughly 150 Gloucester properties might be eligible in focused neighborhoods such as Gloucester Point, though Lague cautioned that participation rates are uncertain and that construction and connection costs borne by homeowners will typically exceed the $5,000 reimbursement. Lague also said the county had estimated forgone application fees around $787,000 if every eligible parcel participated; actual participation is expected to be far lower.