Bay Restoration Fund Pre-application for Financial Assistance for OSDS Projects

Maryland's Nitrogen-Reducing Septic Upgrade Program

There are approximately 420,000 septic systems in Maryland. Of these, 52,000 systems are located within the “Critical Area,” land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters. The typical septic system does not remove nitrogen, instead delivering about 24.32 pounds of nitrogen per year to the groundwater. An upgraded, nitrogen-removing septic system cuts a system’s nitrogen load in half. The Maryland Department of the Environment has upgraded over 3,000 septic systems to nitrogen removing Best Available Technology (BAT) through the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) Onsite Sewer Disposal System (OSDS) grant program.

Due to very high demand, the Maryland Department of the Environment now prioritizes funding for septic system upgrades toward those systems that pose the greatest threat to clean waterways and drinking water. In accordance with State law, the Bay Restoration Fund prioritizes upgrades as follows:

1. Failing OSDS or holding tanks in the Critical Areas

2. Failing OSDS or holding tanks not in the Critical Areas

3. Non-failing OSDS in the Critical Areas including new BAT installation

4. Non-failing OSDS outside the Critical Areas

County Contacts - Effective July 1, 2010, the Septic BAT Program will be implemented by local County Health Departments or Other parties.

BRF Implementation Guidance (Updated) FY 2013

Best Available Technology

Best Available Technology selection process

Flow Chart for Application process
Sampling Protocol Guidance

Arithmetic Means Guidance Document As of January 3, 2012, the technologies will be analyzed using the Arithmetic mean of the effluent for the reduction of TN. Please read for clarification.