The Van Wert County Health Department Household Sewage Treatment
Systems (HSTS) Program involves permitting and inspection of sewage
treatment systems serving homes in areas that have no access to
sanitary sewer service. A Household Sewage Treatment System
Installation Permit must be obtained prior to constructing a new
system as well as replacing or upgrading an existing system.
Amended Substitute House Bill 119 (Am. Sub. HB 119), passed by the
127th General Assembly, contains substantial amendments
to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC)
regarding the regulation of household sewage treatment systems in
Ohio. The sewage treatment system rules adopted by the Public
Health Council that became effective on Jan. 1, 2007, have been
rescinded as required by the bill. The bill also enacts several
uncodified provisions into state law that take effect July 1, 2007.
These uncodified provisions are effective until July 1, 2009, and
have substantial impact on the sewage programs implemented by the
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and local health districts.
In
order to comply with these new law provisions, the Public Health
Council has re-adopted the majority of the 1977 version of OAC
3701-29. This chapter provides baseline rules by which every local
health department HSTS program must operate. Effective
December 31, 2007 the
Van Wert County Board of Health adopted the Van Wert
County HSTS Rules, to facilitate continued operation of the
HSTS program in compliance the new law provisions.
Statewide Interim
Sewage Rules (Effective July 2, 2007 to July 1, 2009)
Van Wert County HSTS Rules
Information for New Lots, Homes, and STS Systems
HSTS New Construction Procedure
Minimum Requirements for Building Lot Approval
HSTS Lot Split Application
Household STS Site Review Application
Enviro-Septic Alternative Household
Sewage Treatment System Program
On January 17, 2008 the Van Wert County
Health Department became the first health department in Ohio to
obtain approval to permit installation of an alternative household
sewage treatment system designed around Enviro-Septic® pipe,
manufactured by Presby Environmental, Inc. of Whitefield, New
Hampshire. The installations will be permitted according to design
specifications already established for the state of Indiana. The
specially designed pipe at the heart of this system provides a high
level of treatment to the wastewater before it is released to the
soil. Because of the extra treatment that is provided by the pipe,
and because the system is vented to promote aerobic digestion, the
dimensions of the soil absorption system are significantly smaller
than other conventional absorption system options. In addition to
allowing the use of a smaller absorption system, the additional
treatment provided prior to releasing the wastewater to the soil
also reduces the negative environmental impact of the system.
The advantages listed above are
achieved without extensive use of mechanical components. In fact,
the Enviro-Septic® absorption system is designed to operate by
gravity. Most sites in Van Wert County will require very shallow or
elevated installations, meaning a simple dosing pump will be
required to overcome the elevation difference between the house
outlet and the soil absorption system inlet. Although the system
has been in use for various lengths of time in at least six states
and one Canadian province, the use of this system in Van Wert County
is approved by experimental concurrence from the Director of Ohio
Department of Health. As a result, homeowners wishing to use this
system must agree to a few special conditions, including granting
the Van Wert County Health Department access to the system for
monitoring and testing purposes. More information is available
below.
Alternative soil absorption system using
Enviro-Septic pipe
Experimental program overview
Experimental program terms and conditions
Licensed STS Installers, Service Providers, and Septage Hauler
Lists
Site and Soil Evaluation Providers
Installers
Septage Haulers
Service Providers
Information for STS
Installers, Haulers, or Service Providers
5-20-08 HSTS Contractor Newsletter
11-30-07 HSTS Contractor Newsletter
Contractor Checklist for HSTS As-Built Record
Sample HSTS As-Built Drawing
STS Installer, Hauler, Service Provider
Training
Operator Training Committee of Ohio -
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