Short answer: Sewers barely reach Melville: about 11% of the land is inside Strathmore @ Huntington Sewer District, Southwest Sewer District, so most homes depend on a cesspool, septic tank or I/A system.
Melville in numbers
| Town | Town of Huntington |
|---|---|
| Area | 12.13 sq mi |
| In active sewer district | 11% · Strathmore @ Huntington Sewer District, Southwest Sewer District |
| In proposed district | under 1% |
| Groundwater zone | Zone I 92%, Zone II 8% |
| FEMA flood zone | 0% |
| One-family lots / median | 4,113 / 0.35 ac |
| One-family lots outside active sewer districts | about 3,518 |
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 Melville: about 11% of the land is inside Strathmore @ Huntington Sewer District, Southwest Sewer District, so most homes depend on a cesspool, septic tank or I/A system. Counting lots instead of land: about 3,518 of the 4,113 one-family lots touching Melville lie outside any active sewer district, and those homes rely on on-site systems. Neighbouring areas: South Huntington (3% sewered, median lot 0.23 ac); West Hills (0% sewered, median lot 0.44 ac); Wheatley Heights (0% sewered). By active-sewer share Melville ranks 34 of the 165 Suffolk hamlets and villages we measured.
Groundwater, lots and flood exposure
Groundwater management Zone I (92%) and Zone II (8%): Article 6's minimum lot for a new home on an on-site system here is 20,000 sq ft, unless the density is met another way or an exemption applies. County parcel records show 4,113 one-family lots touching Melville, with a median of 0.35 acres (about 15,300 sq ft), below that minimum and the 87th-largest median lot in our Suffolk table. 48% is in a Special Groundwater Protection Area.
For most Melville 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 Melville
- Building and electrical permits: Town of Huntington
- Sewer: Strathmore @ Huntington Sewer District
- System approvals and grants: SCDHS, 631-852-5700 (permits) / 631-852-5811 (grants)
Frequently asked questions
Is Melville on public sewer?
Partly: about 11% is inside Strathmore @ Huntington Sewer District; the other 89% relies on cesspools, septic tanks and I/A systems.
Can Melville homeowners get septic grants?
Yes, if the home isn't sewered and isn't in a proposed sewer district: up to $20,000 from Suffolk and up to $25,000 from the state.
County rules, licensing and grant steps: Town of Huntington overview, septic grants, replacement rules. More in Huntington: Dix Hills, Huntington Station, Cold Spring Harbor.
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 Melville?
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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