| As of July 1, 2007 all Vermont
drinking water wells and septic systems fall under the jurisdiction
of the Agency of Natural Resources. The Vermont legislature passed
this new requirement in 2002 to make sure that all septic and well
systems are treated consistently and to protect human health and
the environment.
Dealing with a failed well or septic system can be time consuming
and expensive. Please read the guidelines and income limits on
this page carefully!
Low-cost Loans for Owner-occupied Residences
If, after reading this page, you think you need need
money to repair or replace your well or septic system, and your
income is below the limits on the well or septic charts (they
are different income levels due to funding sources!), contact
your local NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center on this website.
We may also be able to help you with your septic design
costs.
Your regional NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership
Center will send you an eligibility form. You must return a completed eligibility
form before the Center can make a decision about your
eligibility. If you are approved for a loan, your regional HomeOwnership
Center will guide you through the repair or replacement process,
help you locate qualified well drillers or septic system contractors,
and will help coordinate required inspections and documents.
Wells
Existing wells for owner-occupied residences do not need
a permit if nothing wrong with the well and it needs no changes.
All new wells drilled require a permit.
Try to determine if the problem can be fixed with a minor
repair, which would not require permits.
Check the State
Department of Health website for do-it-yourself solutions
at: http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/index.aspx and
scroll to “safe water.” Sometimes private wells
run dry or become contaminated. For contamination thresholds,
call or visit the website of the Department of Health or
your Agency of Natural
Resources regional office or visit the website: www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ww/wwmd.cfm
Barre: 802-476-0190
Essex: 802-879-5656
Rutland: 802-786-5900
Springfield: 802-885-8855
St. Johnsbury: 802-751-0130
If repairs or replacement are needed for a failed well that
serves a single family home, no permit is required, but the
owner and the well driller must complete a form and have
it recorded by the town clerk after the work is done.
Permits are required for duplexes and multi-family buildings
on single lots for any new or replacement private well or
potable water supply.
The Vermont Department of Housing and Community
Affairs and USDA Rural Development have made money available
to the NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership
Centers of Vermont loans to help income-eligible homeowners
who fall under the following 100% of HUD median income limits:
| Well
Repair Loans: Maximum Income by Household Size |
| |
1 Person |
2
Person |
3
Person |
4
Person |
5
Person |
Chittenden,
Franklin,
Grand Isle |
$49,400 |
$56,500 |
$63,500 |
$70,600 |
$76,200 |
Addison |
$44,200 |
$50,500 |
$56,800 |
$63,100 |
$73,200 |
Bennington |
$41,700 |
$47,600 |
$53,600 |
$59,500 |
$64,300 |
Caledonia,
Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland |
$41,200 |
$47,100 |
$53,000 |
$58,900 |
$63,600 |
Washington |
$45,900 |
$52,400 |
$59,000 |
$65,500 |
$70,700 |
Windham |
$42,100 |
$48,200 |
$54,200 |
$60,200 |
$65,000 |
Windsor |
$43,800 |
$50,100 |
$56,300 |
$62,600 |
$67,600 |
If you are near these limits, please inquire as you may
be eligible!
Septic Systems
Owners-occupied residences with existing septic systems do
not need a permit if there is nothing wrong with the septic
system and no changes to the system are made. Try to determine
on your own if the problem can be fixed with a minor repair.
Minor repairs do not require permits and include problems like
running toilets, excess grease or chemicals going into the
system or too many people using the system. Sometimes, the
problem can be easy to fix.
All new septic systems and replacement or modification
of existing systems require permits. The most common
reason for modification or replacement is the failure
of an existing one.
The Department of Housing and Community Affairs
has made resources available to the NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership
Centers of Vermont help affected homeowners. The following 80%
of HUD median income ceilings will be used to evaluate eligibility
for a loan:
| Septic
System
Repair Loans: Maximum Income by Household Size |
| |
1
Person |
2
Person |
3
Person |
4
Person |
5
Person |
Chittenden,
Franklin,
Grand Isle |
$39,550 |
$45,200 |
$50,850 |
$56,500 |
$61,000 |
Addison |
$35,350 |
$40,400 |
$45,450 |
$50,500 |
$54,550 |
Bennington |
$33,300 |
$38,100 |
$42,850 |
$47,600 |
$51,400 |
Caledonia,
Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland |
$32,950 |
$37,700 |
$42,400 |
$47,100 |
$50,850 |
Washington |
$36,700 |
$41,900 |
$47,150 |
$52,400 |
$56,600 |
Windham |
$33,700 |
$38,500 |
$43,350 |
$48,150 |
$52,000 |
Windsor |
$35,050 |
$40,100 |
$45,100 |
$50,100 |
$54,100 |
If you are near these limits, please inquire as you may
be eligible!
If you think your system has failed, contact
a licensed wastewater system designer or engineer. You can
find one by calling 802-241-3822 and requesting a list of licensed
designers. Or, visit: www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ww/ST/SiteTechList.pdf. The
licensed designer or engineer will help you determine if your
system is failed. If the licensed designer certifies
that your septic system has failed and needs a major repair
or replacement, you must get a permit and fix your system.
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