VDH's Septic and Well Assistance Program
You may qualify to have your private well and sewer fixed for free.
If you have a house with a well or septic system that needs to be fixed, and your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, we can cover the cost.
The Virginia Department of Health will use $11.5 million allocated in the Governor’s Budget Bill approved on August 10, 2021 to help low-income homeowners repair or replace well and septic systems. The allocation is part of the Commonwealth’s funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Office of Environmental Health Services will spend the ARPA funds through the Septic and Well Assistance Program (SWAP), which will be used to assist homeowners with incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
More Information
Talk to a representative: (804) 864-7491
Request additional information at lance.gregory@vdh.virginia.gov.
| Persons In Household | 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines |
| 1 | $25,760 |
| 2 | $34,840 |
| 3 | $43,920 |
| 4 | $53,000 |
| 5 | $62,080 |
| 6 | $71,160 |
| 7 | $80,240 |
| 8 | $89,320 |
SWAP covers the cost of:
- Repairing or replacing failing septic systems.
- Replacing straight pipes and privies.
- Installing conventional system repairs, alternative system repairs, or sewer connection.
- Alternative system operation and maintenance.
- Replacing inadequate private wells.
- Properly abandoning unused wells.
- Installing replacement wells or public water connections.
How old is your septic systems?
Most septic systems last about 30 years before having to be repaired or replaced.
When is the last time you tested your private well for water quality?
Almost 1 in 3 private wells tested exceeds safe drinking water levels for bacteria and/or critical heavy metals, representing serious health hazards.
VDH will receive ARPA funding designated for repair/replacement of failing onsite sewage systems and private wells for low-income home owners. We want to make sure we can help as many families as possible.
Over half of the approximately 1.1 million onsite sewage systems in Virginia are reaching the end of their usable lifespan, and the majority of the over 700,000 private wells are not regularly tested for water quality. This project will significantly improve the health of many Virginians, which is the heart of our mission.
To apply for the SWAP program please fill out the form below and submit it to you local health department. You will need to also provide proof of income, such as a pay stub or W-2 tax form, to determine your income eligibility. We advise contacting your local health department in advance to ensure staff will be available to assist you with your application, and to ensure you have the necessary proof of income documents.
As part of the grant application you will need to provide a permit for the septic and/or well repairs. If you do not already have a permit, please fill out the Well and Septic Permit Application below and submit it to the local health department. Under VDH's Hardship Guidelines, we can assist homeowners at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines with conventional septic and private well designs.
If you need help with the application process you can provide your information by clicking here or contact your local health department.
VDH plans to provide roughly 50% of available funding to local partners that would like to implement the SWAP grant program in their area. We are still finalizing details on the application process for local partners, and will post updated information on this site once available. In the interim, please feel free to contact Lance Gregory at (804) 864-7491 or lance.gregory@vdh.virginia.gov with any questions.