Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Fund & Septic Grants
The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Fund ensures long-term funding to modernize existing septic systems and wastewater infrastructure. Homeowners can now receive a grant of up to $45,000 to replace their septic systems, with additional funding available from East Hampton, Shelter Island, and Southampton Towns.
The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act safeguards our way of life, improves public health, and protects the waters we depend on. The establishment of the fund unlocked federal and state funding for clean water projects across Suffolk County, including throughout the East End. These projects will restore our local bays and harbors, create thousands of jobs, and revitalize business districts.
Scientific research shows that nitrogen pollution from untreated sewage is suffocating our bays and harbors and is in our drinking water. The harmful effects of excess nitrogen are far reaching—from beach closings, fish kills, and harmful algal blooms to possible linkages to cancer. Restoring clean, healthy water requires drastically reducing nitrogen pollution from its main source, Suffolk County’s existing 360,000 nitrogen-polluting cesspools and septic systems. The good news is that today’s high-tech septic systems can significantly reduce the overabundance of nitrogen that flows into East End waters every day.
Recognizing the critical importance of protecting our bays, harbors, and drinking water, the Group spent more than a decade working with a broad coalition of clean water advocates to push for a comprehensive wastewater strategy, proper updates and reforms to wastewater regulations, the advancement of new technology, and a stable and recurring revenue source to appropriately fund the program over time.
In November 2024, the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act was on the ballot as Proposition 2. An amazing 72% of Suffolk County residents voted in favor, effectively approving long-term funding dedicated exclusively to clean water infrastructure.
As of July 2026, the fund has already collected nearly $60 million in revenue!
Homeowners may receive up to $45,000 in grants from Suffolk County and New York State, with additional funding available from East Hampton, Shelter Island, and Southampton Towns. For more information, click here.
This fund is paid for by an 1/8-of-a-penny increase to the county sales tax, which amounts to just 12.5 cents per $100 purchase. It will only be used to pay for septic and wastewater improvements in Suffolk County, including tax-free grants for homeowners who replace their septic systems with modernized systems that effectively treat nitrogen. This helps to make replacements more affordable for residents.
Several East End towns also provide tax-free grants to homeowners who replace their septic systems. These grants can be combined with Suffolk County’s grants that are funded by the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Fund and New York State.
See if you qualify for funding:
Suffolk County’s Septic Grants
Suffolk County Department of Health Services
631-852-5811
SepticGrants@suffolkcountyny.gov
Town of East Hampton
Town of East Hampton Natural Resources Department
631-324-0496
septicrebate@ehamptonny.gov
Town of Shelter Island
Water Quality Advisory Committee
631-749-0758
jmontgomery@shelterislandtown.gov
Town of Southampton
Southampton Town Community Preservation Fund Office
631-287-5720
septicrebate@southamptonny.gov
News
Suffolk voters approve a new tax for better water, sewer systems
NYS lawmakers give Suffolk green light to propose sewer referendum
Suffolk strikes a good deal for clean water
Suffolk County Water Quality Measure Won’t Be on the Ballot; Critics Blame Political Motives
Suffolk sales tax election for sewers scrapped after legislative talks collapse
Suffolk sales tax hike to build sewers could be on December ballot
