Help available for rural septic systems failing | News

Henry County officials have money they’d love to give away to rural residents with septic systems in need of repair, but there have been few takers so far.

The Household Sewage Treatment System (HSTS) program is funded through a grant program, of which Henry County received $150,000 for this year. Eligible recipients receive 50%, 85% or 100% of the costs to replace a failing septic system.

It is run locally through the Henry County Planning office, Henry County Health Department and Henry County Jobs and Family Services.

“It’s a free grant to basically help homeowners out that are in townships, out in the rural areas, to help them replace failing septic systems,” said Nick Rettig, Henry County planner, during a recent meeting with the Henry County commissioners.

The program is run through the three agencies because each has a different responsibility in the process. The health department decides if a system is failing, planning prepares the bid documents and helps find a contractor for replacement jobs and jobs and family services determines eligibility for the grant.

Jon Lindsay of the Henry County Health Department said failing septic systems is a pretty broad category.

“It can be lots of different things,” Lindsay said. “It could be that their toilets are flushing very slowly, gurgling in the pipes, that can indicate the water is moving away from the house very slowly.”

Lindsay said if someone calls interested in the program, he directs them to jobs and family services first to see if they qualify for the program. If someone qualifies, then he inspects the site.

“It’s worked out very well, we just need more people taking advantage of the program,” Lindsay said.

Rettig added the county has already been approved for another $150,000 next year.

Since 2018, Henry County has given out $235,000 in grant funding for sewer system replacement, which offset a total cost on those projects of $278,000. There have been 30 projects funded since 2018.

Shannon Jones, director of Henry County Jobs and Family Services, said there is even an opportunity now through federal stimulus money to help some people who might not be able to pay for their remaining share of a project if not fully funded.

“We had a couple that were having trouble paying their portion, which was a little over $900,” Jones said.

She added money was available through Adult Protective Services stimulus money and some of that was used to help the couple.

“We’re looking at it that if we don’t help them this project doesn’t get finished, they can’t live in that house,” Jones said. “And then we’d have to provide them other services.”

She said that program is available to anyone over the age of 60.

Jones added, however, that the first time someone getting the HSTS grant wasn’t able to pay their portion.

“This grant is amazing and seems like it’s going to continue, we’re just hoping more people take advantage of it,” Lindsay said.

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