Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone says the county has accepted the first nine applications to the Reclaim Our Water Septic Improvement Program. 

The county is providing them grants and low-interest loans to help reduce the cost of replacing antiquated cesspools that have been blamed for nitrogen pollution in Long Island's waterways. 

Suffolk plans on issuing 200 grants each year to eligible homeowners near coastal waterways.

A total of 165 homeowners have already applied.