County staff explains state septic upgrades, $10K–$16K rebate program and funding limits

Stacy Greco of Alachua County Water Resources told commissioners that updates to the Santa Fe and Silver Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) include new state requirements for septic systems in priority areas, and that existing systems in the Silver Springs Basin must be connected to centralized sewer or upgraded to enhanced systems over the next 20 years as they require repair or replacement. "The idea is right by the 20 year window is that you don't want anyone going out and digging up a system that's functioning, properly," Greco said, explaining the phased approach.

Greco said the county currently has $250,000 from DEP for rebates and that the program now provides a straight $10,000 rebate for passive systems and $16,000 for aerobic systems; she warned that "We will run out of money, within the next year" and described work to apply for additional funding and to keep a waiting list to document demand. Commissioners asked staff to provide maps and counts of addresses excluded from state priority areas so the board can evaluate whether to provide county funds to fill those gaps.