The Wekiwa PFA Septic Upgrade Incentive Program (Wekiwa PFA SUIP) provides qualifying homeowners in the Wekiwa Priority Focus Area (PFA) up to $10,000 toward upgrading a conventional septic system to an enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic system.

Homeowners may receive the reimbursement directly or have a qualified septic installer or licensed plumber apply on their behalf.

Use the lookup tool at the top of the page to find out if a property is eligible for the program. If it is eligible, please fill out the interest form selecting Wekiwa PFA SUIP to begin the application process.

In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act to help protect Florida’s springs. Orange County received a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to improve the water quality of Wekiwa and Rock Springs, which are designated as "Outstanding Florida Springs" and federally designated as a Wild and Scenic River.

Excess levels of nitrogen, particularly nitrate from septic tanks, have been found to have a negative impact on these springs. Orange County developed the Septic Upgrade Incentive Program (SUIP) to encourage homeowners to upgrade existing conventional septic systems to enhanced systems that reduce nitrogen by at least 65%.

The Wekiwa PFA SUIP provides payments of up to $10,000 to eligible homeowners. Payments may be made to the homeowner or directly to a qualified installer.

No, potential applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Your home must be located in both the Wekiwa and Rock Springs Priority Focus Area (PFA) and unincorporated Orange County.
  SUIP EXPANDED TO ALL UNINCORPORATED ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS As of October 2026, all unincorporated Orange County residents who meet program requirements, regardless of their wastewater service provider, are eligible to apply. Previously, this program was only available to Orange County wastewater customers.
• Your home must be in an area where there are no plans to install sewer lines. If your home is not in the Orange County Utilities Wastewater Service Area, ask your provider to confirm in writing that there are no plans for sewer service. Submit that documentation with your application.
• Use the SUIP Lookup Tool to check if you are eligible for the grant.
• Only residential homeowners are eligible for the program.
• If you'd like to be pre-screened for the program and receive additional information, enter your address and contact information into the Septic Upgrade Incentive Program Interest Form.

No. You do not need to replace a working conventional septic system unless a repair or modification requires an upgrade. Upgrades to existing conventional septic systems on lots one acre or less will be required to obtain a repair or modification septic permit. Beginning March 1, 2025, FDEP and Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) will require that the system be upgraded from a conventional system to an enhanced system that reduces nitrogen by at least 65%.

No, you must replace a conventional system with an enhanced system that reduces nitrogen by at least 65%. It must be installed by a licensed and qualified installer.

Not necessarily. The grant helps cover the difference in cost between conventional and enhanced nitrogen-reducing systems. In most cases, it will not cover the entire cost. You are responsible for any remaining costs and should discuss the total price with your installer.

You may qualify if the system was installed on or after November 1, 2020, and you meet all other program requirements. The replacement must be an eligible enhanced system that reduces nitrogen by at least 65%, and proper documentation must be submitted.

The BMAP SUIP provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners in Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), Alternative Restoration Plan (ARP), and Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) areas. Funding helps homeowners upgrade their conventional septic tank to an enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic system.

Funds are limited and available on a first-come first served basis. Homeowners may apply to receive the reimbursement, or have a qualified installer apply on the homeowner’s behalf and receive the reimbursement directly from the County.

Use the lookup tool to find out if a property is eligible for the program. If it is eligible, please fill out the interest form selecting BMAP SUIP to begin the application process.

The goal of the program is to improve the health of water bodies in Orange County that are not meeting water quality standards set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). A major source of water pollution in Florida is nitrogen-rich wastewater from conventional septic tanks. Wastewater can travel to nearby bodies of water and fuel algal blooms.

Orange County developed the Septic Upgrade Incentive Program (SUIP) to encourage homeowners to upgrade existing conventional septic systems to enhanced systems that reduce nitrogen by at least 65%.

The BMAP SUIP provides financial reimbursements to homeowners. Payments may be made to the homeowner or directly to a qualified installer. This program is funded by the FDEP Water Quality Improvement Grant Program.

No, potential applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Your home must be located in unincorporated Orange County in one of the following areas:
  • Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) area excluding the Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs Priority Focus Area (PFA)
  • Alternative Restoration Plan (ARP) area
  • Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) area
• Your home must be in an area where there are no plans to install sewer lines. If your home is not in the Orange County Utilities Wastewater Service Area, have your provider confirm there are no plans for sewer in writing and provide that documentation with your application.
• Use the SUIP Lookup Tool to check if you are eligible for the grant.
• Only residential homeowners are eligible for the program.
• If you'd like to be pre-screened for the program and receive additional information, enter your address and contact information into the Septic Upgrade Incentive Program Interest Form and select BMAP SUIP.

No. The BMAP SUIP is a voluntary program that encourages eligible homeowners to upgrade to enhanced nitrogen-reducing septic systems.

At this time, only property owners with homes in the Wekiwa PFA are required to upgrade broken or defective conventional septic tanks to enhanced nitrogen-reducing systems.

No, you must replace a conventional system with an enhanced system that reduces nitrogen by at least 65%. It must be installed by a licensed and qualified installer.

The goal of the grant is to assist with the difference in cost between conventional and enhanced nitrogen-reducing systems. In most cases, it will not cover the entire cost. You will need to negotiate the cost with your installer.

If you meet all the eligibility requirements and replaced your conventional system with an enhanced nitrogen-reducing system you may apply. The system must have been installed on or after July 1, 2024, and proper documentation must be submitted.