Resources

SEPTIC UPGRADE INFORMATION

East Hampton Town Septic Rebate Program
Eligible homeowners with an annual income of less than $500,000, may receive a rebate for the costs associated with upgrade – up to $16,000 if your property is located within the Water Protection District or if you qualify for affordable housing, and up to $10,000 if your property is outside of the Water Protection District.

• Town Septic Rebate Program Website
• Town Septic Upgrade Process
• Town Rebate Eligibility Verification Form
• Town Rebate W-9 Form
• Town Water Protection District Maps
• Informational Presentation 

Suffolk County Septic Improvement Program Grant
Grants are currently available for up to $20,000 for eligible homeowners, plus up to an additional $10,000 from NY State. Most may be eligible for a low-interest loan up to $10,000 to finance the remaining costs, or to help bridge the time until you receive your rebate from the Town. 

• County Septic Improvement Program Website
• County Septic Upgrade Process
• Informational Presentation

Wastewater MANAGEMENT

• Hamptons Septic Services
  A reliable, local company that has partnered with CCOM’s Save the Lake – Save the Pond Program.
• NYS Dept. of Health Septic System Operation and Maintenance
  A useful briefly describing septic system components and how they should be maintained.

NATIVE PLANTS AND RAIN GARDENS

• East Hampton Town Natural Resources Department Revegetation Information
  For the homeowner there are five codes within the East Hampton Town Code that define the clearing restrictions or the conditions under which clearing may take place. Please refer to this important resource.
• Long Island Native Plant Initiative
  Learn which plants are native to our area; why native plant habitat and biodiversity is important and stay in the know about upcoming native plant sales and other educational / volunteer opportunities.
• Best Native Plants for Buffer Zones and Rain Gardens
  A short list of plants native to Long Island, including descriptions and ideal uses; prepared by Montauk student intern Anni Spacek
• Waterwise Gardening
  Useful list of drought-tolerant plants.
• Constructing a Rain Garden
  An educational guide on the definition of a rain garden, its benefits and if planting one will work on your property.
• University of Connecticut Rain Garden Guide
  A visual guide that describes what a rain garden is, and how to properly install one at your home or office using plants native to your area.

TOXIN-FREE property management

• Suffolk County Stormwater Management Program Residential Best Management Practices
  Reducing the quantity and improving the quality of stormwater runoff in your community starts with you. As a homeowner, you have the ability to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter stormwater and the amount of stormwater that leaves your property by implementing just a few best management practices.
• Suffolk County Healthy Lawns Clean Water Program
  The over-application and/or misuse of fertilizer products is one of several sources that has led to the degradation in local water quality, and has harmed groundwater, drinking water, wetlands, and surface waters within Suffolk County. Learn about the local law Suffolk County passed to reduce nitrogen pollution by reducing the use of fertilizer.
• Perfect Earth Project
  This East Hampton based organization educates homeowners and professionals about the dangers of synthetic lawn and garden chemicals to humans, animals, and the environment. They promote and teach natural, PRFCT (toxin-free) techniques that provide beautiful, safe results at no extra cost.
• S.T.O.P (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) Days
  S.T.O.P. DAYS are scheduled days in which residents of East Hampton are permitted to dispose of household hazardous materials at the East Hampton and Montauk facilities.
• Cracking the Fertilizer Code
  Learn about responsible fertilization and how to decipher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels

Suffolk County Water Authority Private Well Water Testing Program

To help residents with private wells determine the quality of their drinking water, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services operates an extensive water testing program.

Long Island: Where Does It Go When I Flush? | The Nature Conservancy

Long Island’s conventional septic systems only function as designed when there is enough distance between the leaching pit and the ground water. In low-lying coastal areas septic systems are commonly considered ‘failing’ when the ground water comes close to the leaching pit. Many septic systems can fail at once when rain or storm surges submerge septic systems and/or elevate the water table. In addition to nitrogen pollution, failing septic systems release pathogens that are a direct threat to human health.

Where Does It Go When I Flush? video