Operation & Maintenance Program (O&M)


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​In January 2015, the Ohio Department of Health adopted new rules regarding private Sewage Treatment Systems (STSs) in Ohio (Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3701-29-19). These new rules mandate that all health districts in the state develop and implement a local Operation & Maintenance program to ensure all systems in their jurisdiction are monitored for regular inspections, maintenance, and proper function.  Regular maintenance of your system will extend its life, safeguard your investment, protect your health, preserve surface and ground waters, and prevent sewage nuisance conditions on your property.
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The Operation & Maintenance Program will require that every owner of a property with a Home Sewage Treatment System (HSTS) obtain, and continually renew, an Operation Permit and regularly submit proof that their system is receiving the minimum required inspections and maintenance as directed by that permit. Compliance with permit conditions will be tracked on an ongoing basis, allowing the Tuscarawas County Health Department to identify and address neglected and/or failing systems.
Permit Fees:
Unfortunately while this program is state-mandated, funding has not been provided, so Operation Permit fees have been established to assist TCHD with funding for the following: the maintenance, management, and oversight of the electronic database used for system permitting and service records, personnel costs in reviewing service compliance documentation and conducting quality assurance inspections, postage, and homeowner education efforts and materials.

Permit Requirements:
TCHD will evaluate compliance with your permit conditions based on submitted service reports, tank pumping reports, and/or service contracts with Tuscarawas County Registered Service Providers.
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Just as different car models have varying maintenance requirements and schedules, Home Sewage Treatment Systems need design-specific maintenance as prescribed by system manufacturers.  For this reason, multiple permit maintenance requirements and fees have been established to fit these differing needs.  You can find your individual permit conditions on your Operation Permit which will specify the service requirement, frequency of service, and time frame for document submission. 

TCHD has opted NOT to perform inspections of all systems to demonstrate compliance with permit conditions, as some other counties have.  Inspections would be very costly and would only identify issues, instead of providing the needed service to repair or prevent them.  Homeowners are instead required to obtain these services from a registered sewage contractor as directed on their permit.

Operation Permits are Transferrable:
Once issued for a HSTS, O&M permits remain associated with the system and are transferred to the new owner upon sale of a property. 
Enrollment Schedule:
In 2017, TCHD sent letters to owner's of known septic systems with mechanical (aerator) or discharging components to enroll them in the program.  TCHD had anticipated enrolling all other known systems in the program in 2020, however this was placed on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As of 2022, TCHD is ensuring enrollment of all known systems with mechanical (aerator) and discharging components with enrollment of other system types in 2023. 

All permits for a New Installation, Replacement, or an Alteration of a system with mechanical or discharging component will trigger entry into the program, and as of January 1, 2023 systems with mechanical or discharging components evaluated by TCHD for a  Point of Sale Inspection will also be automatically enrolled.

Types of Septic Systems

Information obtained from EPA





​Septic Tank
A buried, watertight tank designated and constructed to receive and partially treat raw domestic sanitary wastewater. Heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank while greases and lighter solids float to the top. The solids stay in the tank while the wastewater is discharged to the drainfield for further treatment and dispersal.



​Conventional System
A decentralized wastewater treatment system consisting of a septic tank and a trench or bed subsurface wastewater infiltration system (drainfield). A conventional septic system is typically installed at a single-family home or small business.The gravel/stone drainfield is a design that has existed for decades. The name refers to the construction of the drainfield. With this design, effluent is piped from the septic tank to a shallow underground trench of stone or gravel. A geofabric or similar material is then placed on top of the trench so sand, dirt, and other contaminants do not enter the clean stone.
Effluent filters through the stone and is then further treated by microbes once it reaches the soil below the gravel/stone trench.
Gravel/stone systems are relatively large in overall footprint and may not be suitable for all residential sites or conditions.


​Chamber System
Gravelless drainfields have been widely used for over 30 years in many states and have become a conventional technology replacing gravel systems. They take many forms, including open-bottom chambers, fabric-wrapped pipe, and synthetic materials such as expanded polystyrene media. The gravelless systems can be manufactured with recycled materials and offer a significant savings in carbon footprint.
An example of a gravelless system is the chamber system. The chamber system serves as an alternative design to the gravel/stone system. The primary advantage of the chamber system is increased ease of delivery and construction. They are also well suited to areas with high groundwater tables, where the volume of influent to the septic system is variable (e.g., at a vacation home or seasonal inn), in an area where gravel is scarce, or in areas where other technologies such as plastic chambers are readily available.
This type of system consists of a series of connected chambers. The area around and above the chambers is filled with soil. Pipes carry wastewater from the septic tank to the chambers. In the chambers, the wastewater comes into contact with the soil. Microbes on or near the soil treat the effluent.




​Drip Distribution System
The drip distribution system is a type of effluent dispersal that can be used in many types of drainfields. The main advantage of the drip distribution system is that no large mound of soil is needed as the drip laterals are inserted into the top 6 to 12 inches of soil. The disadvantage of the drip distribution system is that it requires a large dose tank after the septic tank to accommodate the timed dose delivery of wastewater to the drip absorption area. Additional components, such as electrical power, are necessary for this system, requiring an added expense and increased maintenance.
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​Aerobic Treatment Unit
Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs) use many of the same processes as a municipal sewage plant, but on a smaller scale. An aerobic system injects oxygen into the treatment tank. The additional oxygen increases natural bacterial activity within the system that then provides additional treatment for nutrients in the effluent. Some aerobic systems may also have a pretreatment tank and a final treatment tank including disinfection to further reduce pathogen levels.
The benefits of this system are that it can be used in homes with smaller lots, inadequate soil conditions, in areas where the water table is too high, or for homes close to a surface water body sensitive to contamination by nutrients contained in wastewater effluent. Regular life-time maintenance should be expected for ATUs. 
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​Mound Systems
Mound systems are an option in areas of shallow soil depth, high groundwater, or shallow bedrock. The constructed sand mound contains a drainfield trench. Effluent from the septic tank flows to a pump chamber where it is pumped to the mound in prescribed doses. Treatment of the effluent occurs as it discharges to the trench and filters through the sand, and then disperses into the native soil.
While mound systems can be a good solution for certain soil conditions, they require a substantial amount of space and periodic maintenance. 
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Recirculating Sand Filter System
Sand filter systems can be constructed above or below ground. Effluent flows from the septic tank to a pump chamber. It is then pumped to the sand filter. The sand filter is often PVC-lined or a concrete box filled with a sand material. Effluent is pumped under low pressure through the pipes at the top of the filter. The effluent leaves the pipes and is treated as it filters through the sand. The treated wastewater is then discharged to the drainfield.
Sand filters provide a high level of treatment for nutrients and are good for sites with high water tables or that are close to water bodies, but they are more expensive than a conventional septic system.
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Evapotranspiration System
Evapotranspiration systems have unique drainfields. The base of the evapotranspiration system drainfield is lined with a watertight material. After the effluent enters the drainfield, it evaporates into the air. Unlike other septic system designs, the effluent never filters to the soil and never reaches groundwater.
Evapotranspiration systems are only useful in specific environmental conditions. The climate must be arid and have adequate heat and sunlight. These systems work well in shallow soil; however, they are at risk of failure if it rains or snows too much. 
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​Constructed Wetland System
A constructed wetland mimics the treatment processes that occur in natural wetlands. Wastewater flows from the septic tank and enters the wetland cell. The wastewater then passes through the media and is treated by microbes, plants, and other media that remove pathogens and nutrients. The wetland cell typically consists of an impermeable liner, and gravel and sand fill, along with the appropriate wetland plants, which must be able to survive in a perpetually saturated environment.
A wetland system can work via either gravity flow or pressure distribution. As wastewater flows through the wetland, it may exit the wetland and flow into a drainfield for further wastewater treatment into the soil.