A county health department in central Ohio is having trouble giving away cash to replace failing septic systems. The Fairfield County Health Department, near the Columbus metro area, is reaching out to low-income homeowners to try and hand out $160,000 in grant money to replace onsite systems before the offer expires next summer, the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper account, only four or five homeowners have called to ask about the program, which will foot the entire system replacement bill for the lowest-income residents. There are 17,500 septic systems in the county.

The grants would cover the full cost of replacement for families of four with an annual income of $22,000 or less, and 85 percent of the cost for families of four earning up to $44,000.

Health Department acting director Larry Hanna didn’t offer an explanation for why there are few takers for the grants. He said a lot of older systems are failing, and said simple home improvements will extend the life of aging systems.

“There are a lot of older toilets out in the community where they use 4 or 5 gallons every time you flush them,” Hanna told the newspaper. “The newer water-saver toilets only use about 1.6 gallons. That really helps your septic system life span. Also, newer front-loading washing machines use 80 percent less water. So things like that really help out a lot.”