News Release

UPDATED: Town of Hilton Head Island Launches Sewer Connection Program

July 12, 2022

Hilton Head Island homeowners and renters who qualify may be eligible for grants from the Town of Hilton Head Island to help connect their single-family homes to public sewer.

"The Town and other organizations have been working diligently over the years to ensure Island property owners have access to our public sewer system, which protects the environment and is essential for overall public health," said Mayor John McCann. "The Town was able to get funding to expand sewer connections and help those still on septic systems to transfer their homes to a safer, reliable sewer network."

According to the Hilton Head Island Public Service District, which provides water and sewer services to a portion of Island residents, about 800 of its customers still use septic systems. This could pose public health and environmental problems for homeowners, tenants, and neighbors.

The Town's Sewer Connection Program is being implemented with funding the Town received from the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal stimulus program enacted to help local governments assist families and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 public health pandemic. The federal government awarded the Town more than $5 million. The Town is using $200,000 of those funds to assist property owners or renters living on the Island who have not yet connected to existing sanitary sewer systems due to financial limitations. The Town will award $100,000 in grants each year over a two-year period at the start of fiscal year 2023, which begins July 1, 2022.

The Town's program enhances the Project SAFE (Sewer Access for Everyone) program that was started in 1999 to help Island families connect to sewer. However, not everyone qualifies for it. "The Town's program gives Island residents another option to apply for grant assistance to connect their home to public sewer," said Shawn Colin, Assistant Town Manager for Community Development.

The Town's program is targeted at income-qualified households that earn up to 100 percent of the area's median income and have applied for a Project SAFE sewer connection grant. Households ineligible for Project SAFE or that partially qualify for Project SAFE will be referred to the Town’s sewer connection program for consideration.

Applications for Project SAFE are available at the Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, call the Deep Well Project at 843-785-2849.

How to Apply:

1. Contact Deep Well staff to determine program eligibility. Homeowners will be asked to apply for Project SAFE. Renters will be referred to the Town’s Sewer Connection Program. Deep Well volunteers are available to assist people who need help completing the application.
2. Households ineligible for a Project SAFE grant or who are partially funded for Project SAFE may be referred to the Town's Sewer Connection Program for consideration.
3. Complete Sewer Connection Program Application for consideration.

For more information about the Sewer Connection Program, please visit the Town's website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/program/sewer/ or call 843-341-4693.

Sewer Connection Program