Bay Restoration Fund Program

A team working on the installation of a BAT (Best Available Technology) septic system, using specialized equipment to install a newer and more efficient wastewater treatment solution.

Canaan Valley Institute is working in partnership with state agencies in Maryland and West Virginia to protect water quality by assisting homeowners with funding for septic system pumping and/or replacement.

Find out if you qualify.

What Is the Bay Restoration Fund?

Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are some of the largest threats to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and a vast majority of that pollution comes from conventional septic systems leaching into the groundwater.

The Bay Restoration Fund was created to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries by providing grant funding to Maryland homeowners for the installation of nitrogren-removing Best Available Technology (BAT) units to replace conventional septic systems.

BAT systems can reduce nitrogen discharged from a conventional septic system by up to 50%, helping to reduce the nitrogen load in both the Critical Area (land within 1000’ of a tidal body of water) as well as surface waters away from the Critical Area.

In some cases, a public sewer connection may be the more feasible option rather than a septic system replacement. In this case, the grant will provide funds towards the cost of the connection rather than providing a BAT unit.

Apply today!

The Maryland Department of the Environment oversees the Bay Restoration Fund program at the state level, and Canaan Valley Institute administers the program at the county level for six counties: Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington.

Logo of Maryland Deparment of the Environment
Logo of Canaan Valley Institute

FAQs

Learn more about the application process if you are in one of the six counties in Maryland that we manage.

West Virginia homeowners in the Tuscarora Creek watershed of Berkeley County can contact us at info@canaanvi.org.

  • Click here to view MDE's BAT system testing and BRF ranking.

  • Any property owner with a failing septic system may apply for the Bay Restoration Fund grant program. System failure will be determined by the appropriate state or local agency, dependent upon county.

  • No, but the percentage of grant funding will vary based upon annual income. Funding levels are as follows:

    • 100% Funding: property owners earning less than $300,000 annually, non-profit entities

    • 75% Funding: Maryland Certified Small Business

    • 50% Funding: property owners earning more than $300,000 annually, for-profit entities

  • The BRF grant covers the cost of the BAT unit, the installation of the BAT unit, and two years of operation and maintenance. In cases where a public sewer connection is more feasible, the grant provides up to $25,000 towards the cost of the connection.

  • The BRF grant does not cover any permit fees, recordation fees, electrical upgrades, miscellaneous issues that arise (tree removal, landscaping, etc.), or any necessary repair/replacement of drainfields, seepage pits, sandmounds, etc.

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, regardless of availability of funding. To start the application process, please submit the application form found on our website.

  • You can contact us anytime at bayrestorationfund@canaanvi.org

Ready to Apply?

Further information on the Bay Restoration Fund can be found on the Maryland Department of the Environment’s website at www.mde.state.md.us.

For information on our program in Berkeley County, West Virginia, please contact us by email at info@canaanvi.org. or visit the Berkeley County Board of Health website