Title V Septic Financial Assistance & Betterment Loans

Title V is not a betterment itself. Title V is a Massachusetts state regulation governing septic systems. However, Bridgewater homeowners may be able to finance required Title V repairs, septic system replacement, or an eligible sewer connection through a municipal Betterment Loan.

Community Septic Management Program (CSMP)

Administered by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the Community Septic Management Program (CSMP) helps communities protect local groundwater, drinking water, and beaches from failing septic systems.

CSMP does not provide funding directly to individual homeowners. Instead, it provides low-interest funding to the Town of Bridgewater, allowing the Town to pass those savings on to eligible homeowners through local Betterment Agreements.

What is a Betterment Loan & How Does It Work?

A Betterment is a formal financial agreement between a homeowner and the Town of Bridgewater to repair, replace, or upgrade an on-site septic system. Eligible projects may include conventional Title V systems, Innovative/Alternative (I/A) systems, or connections to public sewer.

What Costs Are Covered?

Betterment Agreements may fund essential expenses associated with an eligible project, including:

• Engineering & Design: Upfront inspection, engineering, and design costs.
• System Upgrades: Full replacement of a conventional septic system or an upgrade to an approved Title V Innovative/Alternative (I/A) system.
• Sewer Connections: Costs associated with connecting to an existing public sewer line, including the proper abandonment of the existing septic tank.

Repayment & Early Payoff

Homeowners are responsible for all direct and indirect expenses incurred by the Board of Health during the project.

• Early Payoff: There is no penalty for paying off your betterment loan early.
• Lien Priority: A betterment lien has first-priority municipal lien status over other outstanding property debt.

Betterment Payment Applications

Senior Property Tax Deferrals

Per the Town vote on November 13, 2007, under G.L. Ch. 80 §13B, Bridgewater allows eligible elderly property owners age 65 or older who qualify for a property tax exemption under G.L. Ch. 59 §5 to defer their betterment loan payments.

Approved applicants enter into a Deferral and Recovery Agreement, which is recorded at the Registry of Deeds. Applications must be filed within six months of receiving the assessment notice.

Have Questions?

Contact the Bridgewater Board of Health for questions about your septic system, Betterment financing, eligibility, or the application process.

health@bridgewaterma.org