Sewage Disposal Systems Division

Private sewage systems are those found in households that are not served by centralized sewerage. Small flow systems are systems other than household systems that treat and dispense not more than 1000 gallons of waste water per day on the site where it is produced. The Richland Public Health Board of Health, with the help of the Sewage Disposal Systems division, maintains and regulates private sewage systems in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code.

 Services

• Approval of lot specifications and system placement as defined by the Ohio Revised Code and the rules of the Richland Public Health District.
• Analysis of site and soil evaluation to determine sewage treatment system design acceptability.
• Consultation on functioning and malfunctioning systems.
• Maintains records of new or altered sewage and septic systems.
• Addresses sewage system complaints

 Soil and Site Evaluations

A soil/site evaluation conducted by a professional soil scientist will provide a report to the sewage system contractor or designer. A site evaluation determines the feasibility of installing a new sewage system on the land or altering a current system. Then the contractor or designer will prepare plans for the sewage treatment system based on soil characteristics as reported by the soil specialist. The soil report and the system plan are presented to the Health Department sanitarian who conducts a site review to validate the plan prior to authorizing a permit to install or alter the sewage system.

Investigations & Consultations

The sewage treatment system division also investigates complaints and provides consultation on failing or malfunctioning systems. In these circumstances, the sanitarian will investigate the case in order to identify the problem and provide a safe solution.

Inspections

The division issues permits for installing new systems. Before a new private sewage system or an altered existing system is completed, the Health Department sanitarian will go onsite to do a final inspection of the system for compliance with the health code. During the inspection, the sanitarian will record items such as where the private sewage system is located, its size, and the kind of system. Records of private sewage system installations and alterations after 1934 are kept on file at the Health Department. Records are retrievable by road name, permit number, original land owner’s name or contractor’s name.