Water Quality Program
Private Water Systems (PWS) & Sewage Treatment Systems (STS)
Questions? Please contact:
eh@tchdnow.org
(330)343-5555 x110 or x115
(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
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
- 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.
- Any other system required to maintain a service contract by law or approval as Special Device for use in the State of Ohio.
- A system utilizing surface application of pretreated wastewater, such as spray irrigation.
- A system utilizing time micro-dosing, such as drip irrigation.
- A system utilizing a pretreatment component, such as an aerobic treatment unit (A.T.U.) or type 4 graywater system
- Operation Permits
- General Requirements
- 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.
- 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
- An operation permit in existence prior to the effective date of this regulation shall remain valid until superseded
- 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.
- Permit terms
- Home Sewage Treatment Systems
- When a service contract is required for a HSTS the operation permit term shall be five (5) years.
- When a service contract is not required the permit, term shall be ten (10) years.
- 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.
- Home Sewage Treatment Systems
- Enforcement and Penalties
- 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.
- General Requirements
- Operation Permit, Service Provider Reporting
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Required Operation Inspection of HSTS
- 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
- 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.
- Other Provisions, Board Authority
- 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.
- 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 septic systems need regular maintenance
- The State of Ohio no longer requires annual tank pumping
All Systems in Tuscarawas County require an operation permit
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:
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
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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
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Lot Splits
For lot split information, please contact Tuscarawas Regional Planning at (330)365-3246
Private Water Systems
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:
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