Water Quality Program
Private Water Systems (PWS) & Sewage Treatment Systems (STS)

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​Our friendly and experienced Sanitarians can help with your questions. 
​Please call us at (330) 343-5550 to schedule an appointment.
Questions? Please contact:
eh@tchdnow.org
(330)343-5555 x110 or x115
Nearly one-fifth of American households depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater and failure to maintain a septic system can lead to backups, malfunctions, and early failures that can result in costly repairs.
Operation and Maintenance Program Information for Home Sewage Treatment Systems
Tuscarawas County General Health District Sewage Treatment Operation and Maintenance Requirements
 
Scope and Authority          
According to the Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-19, the Board of Health shall develop a program for the administration of O&M management for home sewage treatment systems (HSTS) and Gray Water Recycling Systems (GWRS) in compliance with (A)(7) of section 3718.02 of the Ohio Revised Code (O.A.C.) and Administrative Code (O.A.C.) 3701-29-19.  Minimum criteria for the adoption of an O&M program are outlined in O.A.C. 3701-29-19. The O&M program adopted by the Tuscarawas County General Health District (TCHD) hereby incorporates these minimum criteria by creating a program based on risk factors such as: age, complexity and risk to public health.  This program considers similar systems installed both before and after the effective date and deals with them uniformly, when possible.
 
Service contracts required for certain system
  1. An owner of an HSTS utilizing any of the following treatment of dispersal components, singly or in a combination, is required to maintain a contract with a registered service provider to perform service at his/her own personal residence for the life of the system.  This requirement shall apply to all of the following systems irrespective of age or of the date of installation.
    1. Any other system required to maintain a service contract by law or approval as Special Device for use in the State of Ohio.
    2. A system utilizing surface application of pretreated wastewater, such as spray irrigation.
    3. A system utilizing time micro-dosing, such as drip irrigation.
    4. A system utilizing a pretreatment component, such as an aerobic treatment unit (A.T.U.) or type 4 graywater system
  2. Operation Permits
    1. General Requirements
      1. No person shall operate a Sewage Treatment System without an approved and valid permit from the Board of Health.  The owner or a responsible management entity, when applicable, shall comply with the terms and condition of the permit and O.R.C 3718 and O.A.C. 3701-29.
      2. An operation permit shall be in effect upon the approval of an installation, replacement, or alteration of an HSTS.  An operation permit may be renewed, suspended, or revoked by the Board of Health.   In the case of an alteration or replacement, the previous operation permit shall be void upon approval
      3. An operation permit in existence prior to the effective date of this regulation shall remain valid until superseded
      4. When required by NPDES permit, the owner shall ensure that samples are collected in accordance with the law and proper sampling guidelines, and tested by an accredited laboratory to determine compliance with any applicable NPDES standards, as a condition of the operation permit.  Copies of test results shall be submitted to the Board of Health.  Samples may be collected by a registered service provider.
    2. Permit terms
      1. Home Sewage Treatment Systems
        1. When a service contract is required for a HSTS the operation permit term shall be five (5) years.
        2. When a service contract is not required the permit, term shall be ten (10) years.
        3. Operation permits for an HSTS shall renew automatically prior to the expiration date, at no charge, as long as compliance with the permit requirements and applicable regulations are maintained.
    3. Enforcement and Penalties
      1. Whosoever fails to obtain an operation permit as required, comply with the terms of a permit and applicable regulation, or fails to obtain a contract with a registered service provider, when required, may be subject to a penalty fee, sampling fee and an inspection fee by the Board of Health and enforcement action in accordance with O.R.C. 3718 and O.A.C. 3701-29.  If the owner refuses, upon demand, to pay operation permit fee(s) or any other expenses incurred by the Board of Health to inspect, sample, abate, correct or remove a violation, unsanitary condition or nuisance, the sum thereof may be place as a lien against the real property in accordance with ORC section 3709.091.
  3. Operation Permit, Service Provider Reporting
    1. Each HSTS or component thereof, requiring a service contract with a registered service provider, shall be serviced in accordance with O.R.C. 3718, O.A.C 3701-29, manufacturers specifications, and the conditions of the operation permit.
    2. The registered service provider shall report monthly any new or renewed service contract and the systems that have been routinely serviced within the Health District, on a report form approved by the Board of Health.
    3. At the time of service, the service provider shall affix an audit sticker, supplied the Board, to the control panel or other suitable location.  The number on the sticker shall be reported on the form submitted to the Board of Health.
    4. A fee established by the Board shall accompany the monthly report submission per HSTS with a new or renewed service contract, when the service contract is required the operation permit.  This shall include service agreements issued at the time of a new installation.  In the case where the service contract is for a period over one year or less than one year the total fee submitted shall be the fee established by the Board multiplied by the number of years (or a fraction of one year) covered by the contract.  The report and fee shall be due no later than 14 days after the end of the month.  No service contract shall be for less than a six (6) month term.
    5. A registered service provider who performs service at his/her own personal residence shall register yearly in accordance with O.A.C 3701-29-03.  The registrant shall be subject to a registration fee, but shall not be required to show proof of surety coverage.  The registrant must submit a record of service activities performed at his/her home on a form approved by the Board.
  4. Required Operation Inspection of HSTS
    1. An operation inspection shall be conducted prior to the subdivision of a property with an existing structure serviced by an HSTS.  Application for this inspection must be made on a form approved by the Board of health.  A review fee established by the Board of Health shall accompany the application
    2. All permitted HSTS that are not under contract with a registered service provider shall be inspected by the Board of Health at least once every two (2) years to determine system functionality.  A review fee shall be due at the time of inspection.
  5. Other Provisions, Board Authority
    1. No provision of this regulation shall preclude the Board of Health from conducting compliance or verification inspections for the purpose of oversight of installers, service providers or septage haulers.
    2. No provision of this regulation shall preclude the Board of Health from carrying out its statutory authority to abate public health nuisances in accordance with 3707 and 3709 of the ORC.
Key Points:
- All septic systems need regular maintenance 
- The State of Ohio no longer requires annual tank pumping 

All Systems in Tuscarawas County require an operation permit
-What if homeowners do not comply with operation permits?
Failure to comply may result in:
- Penalty fee
- Sampling fee
- Inspection from TCHD
- Further enforcement as deemed necessary by the Board of Health 

Point of Sale Program
​(Private Water System and/or Sewage Treatment Systems)

There shall be no sale, transfer, or conveyance of any parcel within the Tuscarawas County Health District (TCHD) served by a Private Water System (well) and/or Sewage Treatment System (STS) until the following are met: 
  1. The buyer and seller obtain a PWS evaluation report by TCHD or files with TCHD a PWS evaluation report by a registered water system contractor;
  2. The buyer and seller obtain a HSTS evaluation report by TCHD or files with TCHD a HSTS evaluation report by a qualified registered HSTS Evaluator;
  3. and a certificate of transfer is obtained by TCHD 
 
Each PWS or STS in the TCHD shall be inspected and evaluated prior to the sale, transfer, or conveyance of any property upon which a PWS or STS is located. Transfers exempt from inspections include those transfers which are exempt from the Tuscarawas County Fiscal Office’s conveyance fee (see the Tuscarawas County Fiscal Office form DTE 100 EX for a list of exemptions;) and/or structures that have had a new or replacement PWS and/or, HSTS approved by the TCHD submitted within twenty-four (24) months preceding the date of property transfer; or had a point of sale evaluation conducted by TCHD, a registered water system contractor or within twenty-four (24) months preceding the date of property transfer.  The property owner must show proof of exemption in order for TCHD to wave a PWS and/or STS transfer evaluation.   An exemption application shall be completed and submitted to TCHD prior to closing. This exemption is available from the Tuscarawas County Auditor’s office.
 
The owner of a premise containing a PWS shall have the system evaluated by a representative of TCHD or a registered water system contractor
The owner of a premise containing a
  1. HSTS shall have the system evaluated by a representative of the Health Department or by a qualified registered HSTS Evaluator.

New Installation, Alteration, Repair or Replacement of a Sewage Treatment System

The Tuscarawas County Health District is the first place to contact if you want to install a new sewage treatment system (STS), or alter, replace or abandon your existing sewage system. TCHD  will work with you to ensure a comprehensive review of your system, property and water use to determine the best solutions for proper wastewater treatment for your home, or to determine the correct repair of a malfunctioning system. A permit to install or alter a system must be obtained from TCHD before beginning any construction or repair activities on a system.

Steps for Constructing a New Sewage Treatment System
  1. Contact your local health district for specific information on STS permitting or when beginning to plan for land development with a STS. Local health district staff will visit your site to begin the initial site evaluation process. 
  2. Obtain a site and soil evaluation. The natural soil is the most commonly used media for final treatment of sewage effluent from a home. A complete evaluation of the soil on the property is needed to determine how much usable soil (thickness) is present and where it is located. Other site conditions must also be determined such as slope, topography and the location of nearby water sources and drinking water supplies. Some local health districts provide site and soil evaluation services. These services are also available from many private companies and local health districts can provide a list of experts that provide these services.
  3. Work with a sewage treatment system designer to evaluate the different system types available for your lot. Most lots can accommodate more than one system design. Homeowners should carefully evaluate all system costs including installation, long-term operation and maintenance requirements and service contract costs before making a final system decision. Please refer to the list of STS types on the page below.
  4. Obtain quotes and bids from registered STS contractors. Local health districts can provide a list of locally registered STS contractors. Some local health districts require bonding of contractors. Always obtain a written contract and fully discuss all steps of the construction process and services the contractor will provide. Once a contractor is selected and work on your system begins, try to observe as much of the construction process as possible, and even document the installation with pictures.
  5. The local health district will perform a final inspection of your system and approve or disapprove the installation. If installations problems occur, work with the system contractor and your local health district to resolve installation issues. Your local health district’s role is to ensure proper system installation that protects your investment in your STS and public health and prevents disease.
  6. Proper operation and maintenance of your new STS is essential to ensure the system works, does not create odors or other nuisance conditions and prevents exposure to sewage effluent. Depending on the complexity of your system, a service contract may be required. Proper operation and maintenance of your system protects the investment you have made in your property and your system.
Lot Splits 
For lot split information, please contact Tuscarawas Regional Planning at (330)365-3246

Private Water Systems

Private waters systems are regulated by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and administered by both ODH and the Local Health Districts under Sections 3701.344 to 3701.347 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Chapter 3701-28 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC).
Attention Sewage Treatment System Contractors:
There is now an online version of the statewide sewage rules test. 
There is NO fee is required for the online version of the sewage rules test.
Upon completion and attainment of a passing grade, the STS contractor will need to print and keep a copy of the certificate to show as proof of compliance for completing the testing requirement to the health department when they register.

An electronic copy of the STS rules and the exam can be accessed at the following link:
Access to online continuing education for installers and service providers can be found at the following link:

Applications / Forms  
​All applications must be accompanied by payment

Installer and/or Service Provider Forms
Photo used under Creative Commons from eutrophication&hypoxia