Well & Septic Loan Program

To be eligible for a well and/or septic loan, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered Property Owner
• Property must be occupied by the Property Owner for a minimum of 6 months of the year
• Properties must be an existing detached, semi-detached or row house style home within the East Hants municipal boundary
• The total taxable household income must not exceed $100,000. Refer to line 26000 of your previous years’ CRA Notice of Assessments
• There must be no defaults on municipal taxes, rates or charges

The Well and Septic application process follows these steps:

• Property Owner submits application
• The Municipality is responsible for reviewing the application
• A decision is made to approve or reject the application
• If accepted, all parties enter into a financing agreement
• When the upgrade is complete, the Property Owner must submit invoice(s) to the Municipality
• The Municipality will apply a lien to the Qualifying Property
• The Property Owner makes payments on the loan

Before submitting an application, make sure you have the required documents:

• Proof the Property Owner has a total taxable household income of no more than $100,000 annually, as defined in the Bylaw
• If applicable, an official document to show proof of power of attorney, personal representative, guardian, trustee or living interest of the application is being made by someone acting on your behalf
• A written detailed quote from a contractor who holds a certificate of qualification from Nova Scotia Environment

Nova Scotia Department of Environment:

Licensed Wastewater Contractors

Licensed Well Contractors

When the upgrade is complete and the Property Owner is ready to make payments, follow these instructions:

• Submit invoices by email to: finance@easthants.ca
• In person or mailed invoices can be sent to the attention of Well & Septic Program: Lloyd E. Matheson Centre, 15 Commerce, Elmsdale NS, B2S 3K5
• Paying off your loan is the same process as paying your municipal tax bill

• A loan of up to $25,000 per application
• Ten-year payback period
• Affordable interest rates
• A lien being applied to the property. A lien is similar to a mortgage in that the loan will be provided against the value of the property
• Applications will be processed and funded in the order they are received

How do I pay?

• Once you have received an invoice from your Contractor, you will submit it to the Municipality where the final loan amount will be applied as charge in the form of a first lien on the property
• The loan will be repaid as an addition to your yearly Municipal tax bill over a ten-year payback period

Who do I contact to receive my quote?

• It is up to the program participants to reach out to a licensed Contractor. The Contractor must have a valid license/certificate under the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change to carry out the work

How much will my loan amount be?

• It will depend on the estimates provided to you by your Contractor, specific to your upgrade situation

Is there a cost to apply?

• The application is free

When can I start work on my property?

• Upgrade work can only begin after the “Effective Date” on the signed Financing Agreement. Other work does not qualify for this loan

When does the project need to be complete?

• Upgrade work must be completed and invoice(s) submitted to the Municipality within 6 months of the “Effective Date” on the signed Financing Agreement

Program & Application Inquiries:

Seonaid MacDonell, Sustainability Coordinator
Municipality of East Hants
wellandsepticloans@easthants.ca
902-883-6138

Finance & Payment Inquiries (*once accepted into the program): 

finance@easthants.ca 
902-883-2299