Fighting pollution and improving your home just got a whole lot easier for Dartmouth households in the neighborhoods surrounding Apponagansett Bay north to Bliss Corner, especially those making less than $34,000 annually.
The Buzzards Bay Coalition is working to make it more affordable to hook into the town’s sewer line network with significant subsidies and referring homeowners to no-interest loans that can be paid off over many years. Grant funding through its Connect-to-Protect program to assist those wishing to connect from on-site septic systems to municipal sewer has recently increased from $5,000 to $7,500 for households with a yearly income of $34,000 or less. Households making more than $34,000 are still eligible for the $5,000 subsidy.
With the $7,500 grant and town permitting discounts, the cost could be as low as $1,500 to $4,500 – a significant savings. Additionally, the work may qualify for the MASS Housing Rehabilitation Program may approve homeowners for a no-interest loan that does not need to be repaid until the sale of the home.
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Connect-to-Protect Information Session
September 30, 2026
6:30 pm
Dartmouth Town Hall, Room 304
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The Coalition will explain significant grants and no-interest loan programs that may be available, including increased subsidies for those income-eligible. Please RSVP here. Questions about your eligibility? Please call Michael Gagne, the Coalition’s Connect-to-Protect Coordinator, at (508) 287-9040 or email him at michaelgag@gmail.com.
“Residential septic systems are the single largest source of nitrogen pollution impacting water quality in Apponagansett Bay. And connecting these homes to the sewer lines is the single most important thing homeowners can do to reduce that pollution. There’s never been a better time to replace your septic to make a real difference in our local waters and increase the value of your home at very low cost to yourself,” says Gagne.
In an effort to make it as easy as possible to take advantage of this, the Buzzards Bay Coalition can connect homeowners with a contractor who will provide a free, no-obligation estimate to help them gather a better understanding as to what their actual out-of-pocket cost may be before deciding to move forward with the connection.
