Safety and Buildings Division

Wisconsin Fund, Private Sewage System Replacement or Rehabilitation Grant Program Information

Established in 1978, the Private Sewage System Replacement or Rehabilitation Grant Program provides financial incentives to protect public health, safety, and the waters of the state. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $71.1 million in grants for over 32,700 residences and businesses to replace or rehabilitate failing private sewage systems statewide.

As part of this program, Wisconsin counties, Indian tribes, and municipalities within Milwaukee County may apply to the Department of Safety and Professinal Servicees (DSPS), Safety and Buildings Division, for grants to assist owners of principal residences (PR) and small commercial establishments (SCE) in rehabilitating or replacing a failing private sewage system. This publication explains how the program works and who is eligible for financial assistance.

The program is voluntary. As of April 1, 1999, 65 counties, the City of Franklin within Milwaukee County, and the Oneida Tribe are participating. The counties of Ashland, Bayfield, Crawford, Douglas, and Florence currently do not participate.

Who can apply for a Grant?
You may be eligible for a grant under this program, if ALL of the following requirements are met:
-You reside in a county or governmental unit that is participating in the program.
-You have received a written enforcement order or determination of failure to correct the violation from an approved county or local governmental unit representative before replacement begins.
-Your PR or SCE is not located in an area served by municipal sewer.
-The private sewage system serving your PR or SCE was constructed prior to July 1, 1978.
-The income of all owners of the PR is less than $45,000 or of a SCE is less than $362,500. (Note: Grant awards for PRs are reduced by $.30 for each $1.00 earned over $32,000.)
-Your PR or SCE is served by a category 1 or 2 failing system.
-The PR is occupied 51% of the year by the owner.
- The SCE is operated by the owner and has a daily wastewater flow rate less than 5,000 gallons per day.

When is my Private Sewage System Considered Failing?
When properly operating, a private sewage system safely treats wastewater by storing sludge and solids in the septic tank and by treating and dispersing wastewater in a soil absorption field. However, a failing system can harm the environment by discharging sewage to the surface, to a lake or stream, or to groundwater. Your private sewage system may not show any apparent signs of failure and yet be failing.

The types of failing private sewage systems are divided into three categories:

Category 1 systems are those which fail by discharging sewage to surface water, groundwater, drain tiles, bedrock or zones of seasonally saturated soils. These are considered the most serious types of failure, and are given highest priority for grant assistance.

Category 2 systems are those which fail by discharging sewage to the surface of the ground. This type of failing system is eligible for a grant but has a lower priority for funding than Category 1 systems.

Category 3 systems are those which fail by causing the backup of sewage into the structure served. This type of failing system is not eligible for grant assistance.

How Much Money Can I Receive?
The maximum grant is limited to the amounts listed in tables published in SPS 387, Wis. Adm. Code, or $7,000. (Your participating zoning office or health department has copies of these funding tables and can explain how they are used.) Amounts may vary based on the extent of the work needed to bring your system into compliance with the state plumbing code. Experimental systems are not included in the $7,000 maximum.

If my application is approved, when do I get the money?
Grant funds are allocated on an annual cycle. The county submits an application to DSPS by February 1 for all eligible individuals within their jurisdiction. DSPS makes grant awards for these applications in the following fiscal year or after July 1.

If I'm not qualified for a grant or my application is denied, do I still need to correct my failing system?
Yes. Remember, a failing private sewage system is a violation of your local ordinance and state statutes and can result in water pollution and health hazards. You may be ordered to correct a violation even if your county is not participating in the program or if you are not eligible to receive financial assistance.

Wisconsin Fund grant money is not guaranteed.
If approved applications exceed available funding, DSPS is required to prioritize funds based on potential environmental harm associated with different types of private sewage system failures.

Category 1 grants are paid in full before Category 2 grants are eligible for any funding. If there are insufficient funds to provide payments for all Category 1 grants, these grants are prorated, and no funds are provided for Category 2 systems. If funds are adequate to fully fund Category 1 grants, then remaining funds are used for Category 2 grants. If these Category 2 grants cannot be fully funded from remaining funds, these grants are also prorated.

Of the funds available each year, a maximum of 10 percent are allowed for small commercial establishments and a maximum of 10 percent for experimental systems.

Who to Contact
Questions concerning the program may be addressed to your county zoning or health department office, or the Safety and Buildings Wisconsin Fund coordinator at 608-267-7113. Deaf, hearing or speech-impaired callers may reach us through the Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System (WI TRS), dial 711.

The Department of Safety and Professional Services Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TTY 608-264-8777.