Short answer: Sewers barely reach Medford: about 7% of the land is inside Medford Sewer District, so most homes depend on a cesspool, septic tank or I/A system.
Medford in numbers
| Town | Town of Brookhaven |
|---|---|
| Area | 10.8 sq mi |
| In active sewer district | 7% · Medford Sewer District |
| In proposed district | 7% · Medford, Middle Country Road |
| Groundwater zone | Zone III 88%, Zone VI 12% |
| FEMA flood zone | 0% |
| One-family lots / median | 5,776 / 0.34 ac |
| One-family lots outside active sewer districts | about 4,717 |
Computed 2026-11-07 from Suffolk County GIS (hamlet boundaries, sewer districts, groundwater management zones, FEMA flood zones, protection areas, tax parcels). Shares are of land area; a district boundary is not a hookup, and some village-run systems are missing from the county layer. Method and full table.
Sewer coverage
Sewers barely reach Medford: about 7% of the land is inside Medford Sewer District, so most homes depend on a cesspool, septic tank or I/A system. A sliver (7%) is inside a proposed district (“Medford”, “Middle Country Road”). Counting lots instead of land: about 4,717 of the 5,776 one-family lots touching Medford lie outside any active sewer district, and those homes rely on on-site systems. Neighbouring areas: Holtsville (8% sewered, median lot 0.34 ac); Farmingville (3% sewered, median lot 0.28 ac); Gordon Heights (0% sewered, median lot 0.29 ac). By active-sewer share Medford ranks 40 of the 165 Suffolk hamlets and villages we measured.
Groundwater, lots and flood exposure
Groundwater management Zone III (88%) and Zone VI (12%): Article 6's minimum lot for a new home on an on-site system here is 40,000 sq ft in Zones III, V and VI, unless the density is met another way or an exemption applies. County parcel records show 5,776 one-family lots touching Medford, with a median of 0.34 acres (about 14,800 sq ft), below that minimum and the 93rd-largest median lot in our Suffolk table. Also mapped: 25% is in a Special Groundwater Protection Area; 24% is Pine Barrens Compatible Growth Area.
For most Medford homes the main running cost is pumping; when a cesspool fails, the replacement must include at least a septic tank, and grants can cover most of an I/A system.
Who handles what in Medford
- Building and electrical permits: Town of Brookhaven
- Sewer: Medford Sewer District
- System approvals and grants: SCDHS, 631-852-5700 (permits) / 631-852-5811 (grants)
Frequently asked questions
Is Medford on public sewer?
Partly: about 7% is inside Medford Sewer District; the other 93% relies on cesspools, septic tanks and I/A systems.
Can Medford homeowners get septic grants?
Yes, if the home isn't sewered and isn't in a proposed sewer district (about 7% of Medford is): up to $20,000 from Suffolk and up to $25,000 from the state.
County rules, licensing and grant steps: Town of Brookhaven overview, septic grants, replacement rules. More in Brookhaven: Holtsville, Farmingville, Yaphank, Coram.
Sources
Each source was re-read on November 7, 2026. Program amounts and rules change; the agency page is the authority.
- Suffolk County GIS Viewer map service (hamlets, villages, sewer districts, groundwater zones, flood zones, tax parcels)
- Suffolk County Sanitary Code, Article 6 (amended 12/1/2020)
- Suffolk County: Septic Improvement Program information
- Suffolk County: SIP property eligibility lookup
Need cesspool or septic work in Medford?
Submit a request with your address. We match it to an independent, licensed Suffolk County operator who serves that address; the operator confirms the time and price with you.
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