JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Septic Tank Phaseout program is getting a major boost from the Environmental Protection Agency, with city leaders announcing about $6.7 million in funding to help move more than 500 homes and businesses from septic tanks to city water and sewer service in the Christobel neighborhood near Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue.
The city and JEA said the work is part of a long-running effort to reduce aging septic systems and expand access to sewer infrastructure. The city has already completed major conversions in the Biltmore and Beverly Hills neighborhoods, phasing out more than 1,000 septic tanks at homes and businesses.
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Congressman John Rutherford appeared in Christobel to highlight the grants, saying the funding reflects what can happen when leaders work together for residents.
Mayor Donna Deegan said replacing old septic tanks is also a public health issue, pointing to concerns such as sewage backing up after heavy rains, odors around homes and the high cost of septic system failures. She said connecting neighborhoods to a modern sewer system helps create cleaner, safer communities.
City leaders said the project also addresses promises tied to Jacksonville’s consolidation era in the late 1960s, noting some residents have waited decades for sewer service.
Residents in the neighborhood welcomed the construction. William Batts said the change will improve quality of life, and he raised concerns about the costs of septic tank maintenance. Neighbor Willie Hammonds said the work is overdue and could help improve property values in the area.
JEA spokesperson Greg Corcoran said crews are rebuilding streets and yards as they install sewer lines, sometimes digging as deep as 18 feet, while residents continue living in the neighborhood.
The Christobel Septic Tank Phaseout Project is scheduled to be completed by November 2028. The Riverview project — one of the largest planned conversions — is currently in the design phase.