Not a government website. We aren't affiliated with Suffolk County, Nassau County, any town, or New York State, and we can't approve or speed up a grant. Grants go through the official programs, Suffolk SIP (Reclaim Our Water) and Nassau SEPTIC, and the installer you hire handles the grant process with you.
Who qualifies
- Single- or two-family homes, nonprofits and small businesses with an existing design flow of 1,000 gallons per day or less.
- Must replace an existing cesspool or septic system with a nitrogen-reducing I/A system installed after March 1, 2018.
- Valid Certificate of Occupancy (or existing use) from your city, town or village.
- Not connected to a sewer and not in an existing or proposed sewer district, unless the district documents site constraints that prevent connection.
- No open property tax liens.
- Accepted technologies: Hydro-Action AN, Norweco Singulair TNT and Hydro-Kinetic, Orenco AdvanTex AX20, Fuji Clean CEN and SeptiTech STAAR.
- Funding is first come, first served. The County added $2 million in state money in March 2026.
The program page says "up to $20,000". An older county document describes it as 50% of cost up to $20,000, so confirm the formula when you apply.
How it's different from Suffolk
| Nassau SEPTIC | Suffolk SIP + NYS | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | Up to $20,000 | Up to $45,000 |
| Installer rule | Nassau County HIC license | County SIP-Approved Installer List |
| Order | First come, first served | Scored; failures and priority areas first |
| Taxable? | Program materials say no | County SIP payments: no (IRS Announcement 2022-26) |
Where Nassau's cesspools are
About 90% of Nassau is sewered, but most of the North Shore isn't. The Manhasset Bay, Hempstead Harbor and Oyster Bay–Cold Spring Harbor protection committees, Friends of the Bay and the Town of Oyster Bay have run a joint awareness project (C.E.S.S.P.O.O.L.) because so many North Shore systems aren't maintained. Some North Shore areas do have sewer districts (and the County has studied sewering parts of Port Washington and Glen Cove), so check your street first. See the Town of Oyster Bay page.
Applying
Your installer handles the application with you. Program contact: Nassau County SEPTIC program: SepticReplace@nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 364-5861. Because funding is first come, first served, ask the installer to confirm money is still available before you sign a contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Nassau County septic grant?
Up to $20,000 toward replacing a cesspool or septic system with a nitrogen-reducing I/A system. Funding is first come, first served.
Does Nassau have septic tanks and cesspools?
Yes, mostly on the North Shore. About 90% of Nassau is sewered, but most of the North Shore isn't, including many villages around Manhasset Bay, Hempstead Harbor and Oyster Bay.
Is the Nassau grant taxable?
Nassau program materials have said the funds are not considered taxable income and that applicants won't receive 1099s. Confirm with the program and a tax professional.
Can I use an installer from Suffolk's approved list?
Nassau doesn't use Suffolk's SIP list. The installer needs a Nassau County Home Improvement Contractor license, and the system must be one of Nassau's accepted technologies.
What isn't covered?
Program materials have said permit fees and pumping or decommissioning the old system aren't covered. Confirm the current list with the County when you apply.
Sources
- Nassau County SEPTIC program page
- Nassau County news: $2M in new state funding for septic replacement grants (Mar 2026)
- NOWRA: Nassau SEPTIC 2023 update (installer license, process, payment)
- Manhasset Bay Protection Committee: septic flyer (not taxable, no 1099s)
- Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee: C.E.S.S.P.O.O.L. Project