Before you spend money on a new septic system, it pays to ask one question: is sewer coming to my street? Septic to sewer in Merritt Island is one of the two ways to meet Florida's July 1, 2030 rule. The other is upgrading to a nitrogen-reducing septic system. This page helps you figure out which path fits your home and how to get a straight answer about sewer.
Why sewer matters for the 2030 law
Florida's 2023 law, HB 1379, says existing septic systems in the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program area must connect to central sewer or upgrade to an enhanced nutrient-reducing system by July 1, 2030. The law's wording favors sewer when it is available. And since January 1, 2024, new septic systems there are generally not allowed where sewer is available.
So if a sewer line runs past your property, or will soon, connecting may be required or simply the better deal. If sewer is not coming, a nitrogen-reducing septic upgrade is the way to comply.
How to find out if sewer is coming to your street
- Call your sewer utility. On Merritt Island, central sewer is generally provided by Brevard County Utility Services. Ask if sewer is available at your address now or is in an approved plan.
- Check county lagoon projects. Brevard County's Save Our Indian River Lagoon plan includes sewer projects as well as septic upgrades. If your area is in a planned sewer project, the county can tell you.
- Look at your neighbors. If homes on your street have recently connected, there may be a line nearby.
- Ask a contractor. A local septic contractor can help you check maps and ask the right questions as part of a site visit.
Get answers in writing when you can. "Sometime in the future" is not the same as "funded and scheduled."
What a sewer connection in Merritt Island involves
Connecting to sewer usually means:
- Paying the utility's connection or impact fees, if any.
- Running a new pipe, called a lateral, from your house drain to the sewer connection.
- Pumping and properly abandoning your old septic tank, under permit.
- Restoring your yard, driveway or landscaping where the pipe went in.
- Paying a monthly sewer bill from then on.
Some neighborhoods use low-pressure sewer, which means a small grinder pump at the home. Ask the utility which type serves your street.
Sewer vs. septic upgrade: how to decide
| Question | Connect to sewer | Upgrade septic |
|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Sewer is available or firmly scheduled | No sewer available in time |
| Monthly cost | Sewer bill | Maintenance, plus power for aerobic units |
| Upfront cost | Fees, lateral and tank abandonment | New system, often with county grant help |
| Long-term upkeep | Handled by the utility past your line | Pumping, service and repairs are yours |
The county's septic upgrade grant is meant for properties where sewer is not practical. If sewer is planned for your street, ask the county whether you would still qualify before you pick the septic route.
Timing matters
Sewer projects take years to plan, fund and build. If your street is in an early planning stage, the line may not arrive before July 1, 2030. Ask for the project's status and schedule, and keep a copy of the answer. If your system is failing now, you cannot wait for sewer, and the permit office will tell you what a repair or replacement must include in the meantime.
Help paying to connect
Brevard County has run programs to help homeowners connect to sewer, and the state has funded lagoon sewer projects. Availability changes, so ask your utility and Brevard County Natural Resources what is offered for your address.
Questions to ask your utility
- Is sewer available at my address today?
- If not, is a sewer project for my street approved and funded, and what is the expected completion date?
- Will connection be required once the line is available, and how long would I have?
- What fees apply, and is gravity or low-pressure sewer planned for my street?
- Is any connection assistance available for my neighborhood?
If sewer is not coming
That is the case for many Merritt Island homes, especially on larger lots and in less dense areas. Your path is a nitrogen-reducing septic system. Start with the cost guide, check your grant amount, and get a site evaluation. The earlier you start, the more contractor and grant options you will have.