The funds, offered through Haywood Waterways Association, will pay 75% of total repair costs, with eligibility determined by severity of failure, proximity to a waterway and financial need. The average repair costs $8,315, and thus far the program has helped 192 homeowners and prevented as many as 69,120 gallons of untreated human waste from flowing into Haywood County streams each day. Funding is available for any eligible Haywood homeowner.

A failing septic system may produce foul odors outside or in the house, slow drainage in sinks and toilets, soggy soil, liquid waste on the surface of the drain field or excessive grass growth around the system.

The program is a partnership with the Haywood County Health Department and funded through the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Section 319 Grant Program and the Pigeon River Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

For more information, contact Haywood Waterways at 828.476.4667 or 6/outbriefs/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or the Haywood County Environmental Health Department at 828.452.6675.