City of Jacksonville and JEA Septic Tank Phase Out Program

Septic Tank Phase Out Infographic

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The Next Steps

The City of Jacksonville and JEA will continue to work together to communicate information about the overall program and provide additional details about future neighborhood projects as they occur.

While this is a significant step toward abandoning septic tanks, the process will take time. A phased approach will be required to successfully complete the program.

The Process

Individual neighborhoods must reach a 70% property owner participation threshold for a project to move forward. Property owners are required to complete participation documentation to be included in the program.

Once the participation threshold is met, the project will be designed and engineered, bid, and constructed prior to any service connections being made. Physical connections to the JEA system will occur several years later.

Before any work begins, customers living within identified future Septic Tank Phase Out areas will be contacted directly by the City of Jacksonville and JEA. Notifications will be sent by mail and email, including invitations to informational neighborhood meetings and multiple program-related communications.

In short: we will contact you.

Current Septic Tank Issues

Customers currently experiencing issues with their septic systems are strongly encouraged to make necessary repairs.

Any physical connections to the JEA system as part of the Septic Tank Phase Out Program are expected to be several years away.

Innovative Wastewater Treatment Program (IWTP)

The JEA Innovative Wastewater Treatment Program (IWTP) is intended to assess and recommend the most appropriate technologies and approaches (including centralized sewer, decentralized sewer and treatment, and/ or improved onsite treatment) that can be applied to the prioritized STPO areas. The planning documents developed as part of this project will identify approaches that may also be used in the future for the approximately 43,000 additional septic systems that remain in Duval County.

JEA Innovative Wastewater Treatment Program (IWTP)

Septic Grant Program – Commercially Zoned Properties

Health Department statistics show that there are 530 commercially zoned properties using septic tanks within the boundaries of the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund target area (north of I-10 and west of U.S. 17/Main Street, also including the downtown area, Springfield and Panama Park). Legislation adopted by Jacksonville City Council (ORD 2018-196) appropriates funding from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund to provide grants to the owners of commercial properties in that area with failing septic tanks to repair or remove their failing systems and/or be connected to JEA’s sewer system. Septic tank failure is determined by the Health Department or identified by a septic tank contractor, certified plumber, or other qualified person identified by the Florida Administrative Code.

Click here to learn more about the grant criteria.

City of Jacksonville Utility Tap-In Program

The Utility Tap-In Program (UTIP) offers deferred payment loans to assist low- to moderate-income residents citywide with water and sewer line connection fees, associated plumbing costs and septic tank, drain field and well repairs or replacement.

Learn more about UTIP .