These instructions apply to sewer connections of existing dwellings where public sewer is available and the property is currently served by a septic system. Grants will be limited to $25,000 per household and may be applied toward the Public Works Capital Facility Charge, the utility contractor’s charges, or the master plumber’s charges. Priority will be given to properties with failing septic systems located in Critical Areas and Priority Funding Areas within Existing or Planned Sewer Service Areas of the County. The property owner is responsible for permit fees and any other costs in excess of the grant amount.
STEP 1: DETERMINE THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC SEWER
Contact the Department of Public Works at watersewerpetitions@aacounty.org or 410-222-7517 to determine the availability of public sewer to your property and to obtain a Certificate of Availability of Public Wastewater and Estimate of Fees for Connection. To be considered for the grant program, the property must be located in an Existing or Planned Sewer Service Area and have public sewer bordering the property or located in a utility easement immediately bordering the property.
STEP 2: SUBMIT BRF GRANT APPLICATION
Submit a completed Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) Grant Application for an Individual Public Sewer Connection to the Department of Health. Also submit the first page of your federal tax return form 1040. Social security numbers should be redacted.
STEP 3: SECURE AT LEAST THREE WRITTEN BIDS
Prior to getting bids for the work that needs to be done in the right-of-way by a utility contractor, or the work that needs to be done on-site by a master plumber, you should contact Ed Peters, Bay Restoration Fund Grant Manager, at 410-222-7324 for further details about the bid requirements. The property owner will need to secure three written bids from Master Plumbers licensed in Anne Arundel County for the cost to install a sewer line, the cost to install a grinder pump, if necessary, and the cost to abandon the existing septic system. If work needs to be done in the right-of-way, the homeowner will also likely need to get three bids from licensed utility contractors. Submit copies of the written bids to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, BRF Program, 3 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.
STEP 4: SIGN AND RETURN THE BRF GRANT AGREEMENT
A Bay Restoration Fund Grant Agreement will be mailed to you once the Department of Health reviews and approves the written bids. The agreement is a legal document that must be signed in front of Department of Health staff or a notary public.
STEP 5: WAIT FOR GRANT APPROVAL
Based on available funding, the Department of Health will send a Sewer Credit Voucher for the amount of Bay Restoration funds to be applied to the Capital Facility Charge. If money is awarded for the work to be done on-site by the master plumber, the master plumber will not receive payment until approximately 30 days after the job is completed and a proper invoice has been received by the Department of Health. If money is awarded for work to be done in the right-of-way by a utility contractor, the utility contractor’s invoice will not be processed until the master plumber’s work is also completed. The grant agreement will stipulate that the public sewer connection and proper abandonment of the existing septic system must be completed within 60 days unless an extension is granted. Extensions are subject to the availability of BRF funds. Any costs in excess of the BRF grant must be paid by the property owner.
STEP 6: SUBMIT TAP PERMIT APPLICATION (IF NECESSARY) AND PLUMBING PERMIT APPLICATION
If a sewer tap needs to be installed at the property line, please follow the instructions for obtaining a tap permit or a Public Works Agreement for the work that must be done in the right-of-way.
Once the tap permit is completed, then the master plumber will be able to submit the Public Sewer Connection Application.
The public sewer connection application must include:
- A check for $55 for permit fees;
- A copy of the Certificate of Availability of Public Wastewater and Estimate of Fees for Connection;
- The Credit Certificate Voucher if the grant includes payments towards the Capital Facility Charge.
STEP 7: SCHEDULE ON-SITE WORK
Once the sewer tap installation is complete, contact your Master Plumber to begin the on-site work including installation of the sewer line and abandonment of your existing septic system. Before work can begin on the sewer line, the Master Plumber is responsible for securing a plumbing permit from the Permit Center and for scheduling inspection of the sewer line by County Inspections and Permits.
STEP 8: ABANDON EXISTING SEPTIC SYSTEM ON YOUR PROPERTY
The Anne Arundel County Private Sewage Disposal Code requires that you abandon your septic system when your property is connected to public sewer. Your written estimate from the plumber should include the cost to abandon your existing septic system. Since the property owner is legally responsible for abandonment of the septic system, you must ensure that the Master Plumber abandons your septic system in accordance with the Septic System Abandonment Guidelines and completes a Septic System Abandonment Form. A copy of the signed Septic System Abandonment Form must be submitted to the Department of Health at the address below.
STEP 9: PAYMENT
Payments to utility contractors and master plumbers will be processed after the connection is completed and they submit an invoice with a Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. Plumbers and utility contractors should allow approximately 30 days for the County to mail the check.
For more information, contact:
Sanitary Engineering Program
Bureau of Environmental Health
Anne Arundel County Department of Health
3 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-222-7324