Host Mike Dailyaly urges East End homeowners to replace aging septic systems as county and state grants flow

Mike Dailyaly, host of the podcast "Keeping It Real," urged East End homeowners to replace aging septic and cesspool systems to reduce nitrogen pollution and protect local bays and ponds. He said Suffolk County and New York State now offer grants and rebates to help homeowners install innovative/alternative (I/A) on‑site wastewater systems.

"We have got a massive problem with nitrogen loading into our local waters," Dailyaly said, arguing the biggest culprit is older, outdated septic systems rather than new construction. He described long‑standing research linking sea‑level rise, fertilizer and pesticide use and nitrogen from failing septic systems to brown tides and shellfish die‑offs.

Dailyaly outlined the local policy background he described: East Hampton began requiring I/A systems for new construction in August 2017, Southampton expanded requirements for high‑priority watershed areas and large additions, and Suffolk County began mandating I/A systems for many new residential and major reconstruction projects on July 1, 2021. He presented those dates as context for why homeowners now face both regulatory pressure and available funding to upgrade systems.

On past funding, Dailyaly said early county grant programs were difficult to navigate and that a state controller ruling had treated some grants as taxable income, which discouraged homeowners. "Those hiccups are officially over," he said, advising that administrative and tax issues have been addressed and that "the money is flowing cleanly."

He said grants and rebates are available from Suffolk County and New York State, and that homeowners in East Hampton, Southampton and Shelter Island may have additional local funding. According to Dailyaly, in many cases the county pays the grant money directly to the installer so homeowners do not have to pay the full installation cost up front.

Dailyaly also named the Stony Brook Center for Clean Water Technology as an organization helping homeowners through the process. He said he met a Center staff member, Tom Vley, at the event he attended and that the staff helped begin his own application by phone.

Speaking as a real estate agent, Dailyaly warned that failing to upgrade a septic system could damage a home's resale value and predicted that updated systems may become a requirement for certificates of occupancy in the future. He closed by urging residents to act now while funding remains available to protect local waters and shellfish.

The episode did not provide specific program names, dollar amounts, eligibility criteria or application deadlines; Dailyaly directed listeners to the Center for Clean Water Technology and county resources for next steps.