Nearly $1 million in grants available

Under a grant program administered by the Eugene Water & Electric Board, eligible landowners may qualify for up to $35,000 for septic system upgrades or repairs. People do not need to be an EWEB customer to receive a grant because the utility is administering the program for the entire fire-affected area.

Applicants must be the current owner of a property located within the Holiday Farm Fire perimeter and that sustained structural damage or destruction.

If the property owner can’t do the work, septic system repairs or installation must be completed by a Licensed Onsite System Installer, certified by the DEQ.

In addition, completed septic projects must be inspected by Lane County, with permit status listed as final.

The grant amounts could be as much as $35,000 but actual funding will be based on multiple factors including the type of septic system. a landowner’s income and the number of people in a household, and the documented cost of septic system replacement or repair, a receipt of funding from other sources such as state, federal, or utility programs is also required.

In addition, any changes in ownership that may have occurred after the Holiday Farm Fire may impact landowner eligibility. 

For homeowners who have entered into loan agreements with EWEB’s 0% Septic Infrastructure Loan Program, grant funding will first apply to any outstanding balance. If the approved grant funding exceeds the loan payoff amount, EWEB will issue a check for the remainder.

For more information, contact EWEB at 541-685-7318 or [email protected]. 

The grants are made possible by federal funding issued through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To leverage this funding, EWEB has partnered with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Lane County, and other agencies to replace or repair septic systems for homeowners affected by the Holiday Farm Fire.