| System | Typical installed cost | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic treatment unit (ATU) | $10,000–$20,000 | maintenance contract + air pump every 5–10 yrs |
| Mound / raised fill | $12,000–$25,000 | same as conventional |
| Drip irrigation dispersal | $12,000–$25,000 | filter and pump service |
| Low-pressure dosing | $10,000–$18,000 | pump service |
| Performance-based (engineered) | $15,000–$30,000+ | per design |
Volusia County specifics. A nitrogen-reducing retrofit runs $10,000–$20,000 installed, before any grant here. One grant exists in this county and it has a narrow footprint: inside the DeLeon Springs priority focus area, the county's Septic Upgrade Incentive Program pays the contractor up to $14,000 toward a nitrogen-reducing aerobic treatment unit, or up to $8,000 toward an in-ground nitrogen-reducing biofilter, and reduces your invoice by that amount. Outside that area — DeLand, Orange City, Deltona, and the whole lagoon side of the county — there is nothing offsetting the cost today. Ongoing, an aerobic unit carries the maintenance contract and an inspection at $350–$600 rather than the usual $175–$550. How the grant works
When you're required to go advanced: the county site evaluation says so. It is not a contractor upsell — the sanitarian's finding controls what can be permitted. If a contractor proposes an advanced system before the county has evaluated the site, ask why.