On-site Sewage Treatment Systems
Eligibility
County home owners with individual on-site sewage treatment systems.
Purpose
To prevent non-point source water pollution, ground water contamination, and public health nuisances from raw or partially treated sewage discharge. To help homeowners maintain trouble-free operation and maintenance of their household sewage treatment systems.
Description
The Environmental Health Division completes the following tasks for this program. Designs and/or approves submitted design plans for new or proposed sewage treatment systems on vacant lots. Evaluates property line changes for existing homes and proposed vacant lots. Provides guidance to homeowners that are experiencing problems with their existing sewage treatment systems. Evaluates the need for alteration, repair or replacement of a malfunction sewage treatment system. Inspects all installations of sewage treatment systems and inspects existing sewage treatment systems when requested or required.
Services include
- Registration of Sewage Contractors (including Installers, Service Providers, Septage Haulers) and Land Application Sites
- Provide a list of currently registered Sewage Contractors
- Review soils reports and site design to determine if onsite sewage treatment is possible
- Permit and inspect new sewage system installations or abandonments
- Consult on current sewage treatment system conditions
- Additional Applications, Forms and Factsheets
Fee
Yes. See the current year's Fee Schedule here.
Re-inspections
Permit fees are calculated on the base permit fee (new installation, alteration, abandonment) plus any known required re-inspections. For instance, mounds require 3 inspections: a “scratch” test, the uncovered mound and pump test, then final grade inspection. So, a permit for a mound would incur the new installation fee plus 2 re-inspection fees. Similarly ATL beds, discharging systems, and anything with mechanical components will be charged re-inspection fees up front.
Additionally, re-inspection fees are incurred whenever an inspection finds an incomplete or disapproved installation. As an example, a gravity-flow leach field is installed but our inspectors find a missing tank filter, lines off contour, or an out-of-level tank. Because the regular permit for a gravity-flow system does not include any re-inspection fees up front, a $150 fee will be assessed and must be paid before the corrections are reviewed and the system is approved. Additionally, any inspections beyond those paid for up front for systems like mounds, mechanicals, ATLs, etc will also be assessed a fee for each additional re-inspection.
Appointment
Required
Site
County-wide