Installers may want to pass along the following information from the National Environmental Services Center to any low-income customers who may need financial assistance to replace or repair a septic system. The NESC website also supplies information for homeowners about caring for their systems.

Interest rates for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) water and wastewater loans — issued quarterly at three different levels: the poverty line rate, the intermediate rate and the market rate — have been announced. The rate applied to a particular project depends on community income and the type of project being funded.

To qualify for the poverty line rate, two criteria must be met. First, the loan must primarily be used for facilities required to meet health and sanitary standards. Second, the median household income of the area being served must be below 80 percent of the state’s non-metropolitan median income or fall below the federal poverty level. For 2015, the federal poverty level was $23,850 for a family of four (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).

To qualify for the intermediate rate, the service area’s median household income cannot exceed 100 percent of the state’s non-metropolitan median income.

The market rate is applied to projects that don’t qualify for either the poverty or intermediate rates. The market rate is based on the average of the Bond Buyer index. The most recent rates announced are:

• Poverty line: 2.125 percent
• Intermediate: 2.875 percent
• Market: 3.625 percent

Loans are administered through state Rural Development offices, which can provide specific information concerning loan requirements and application procedures.

For the phone number of your state Rural Development office, contact the National Environmental Services Center at 800/624-8301 or 304/293-4191. The list is also available on the Rural Development website: www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.