What is Environmental Health?

Environmental Health is the branch of public health that focuses on the relationship between people and their environment, promoting human health and well-being, and fostering healthy and safe communities. Environmental Health is a key part of any comprehensive public health system. This Division works to advance policies and programs to reduce chemical and other environmental exposures in air, water, soil, and food to protect people and provide communities with healthier environments.

Environmental specialists called sanitarians ensure that restaurants and retail food establishments meet local and state standards. They regulate residential and small flow sewage treatment systems, tattoo and body piercing facilities, solid waste landfills, swimming pools, and campgrounds.

This division also monitors school environments, inspects public nuisances such as illegal sewage discharges, trash accumulations, rodent and other animal and insect disease vectors, and other potential public health problems. Plumbing inspectors in our division inspect and permit residential and commercial plumbing installations to ensure safety and sanitation.

Services also include inspections, investigations, and consultations in the following areas: air pollution, foodborne illness outbreaks, nuisance complaints about sewage and solid waste, indoor air testing, rabies control, residential plumbing, commercial plumbing, schools, institutions, solid and infectious waste, vector control, and private water systems.