Sewage Program | Huron County Public Health

Sewage Treatment Systems (STS)

Sewage Treatment Systems in Ohio

According to the Ohio EPA, nearly 1/5 of American households depend on septic systems, or sewage treatment systems, to treat their wastewater and failure to maintain a sewage treatment system can lead to backups, malfunctions and early failures that can result in costly repairs.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regulates sewage treatment systems across the state through statutory authority established under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 3718 and Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-29, which were updated and became effective on January 1st, 2015. Permitting, inspections and enforcement are conducted by the local health districts and local health districts may adopt more stringent rules and standards.

Sewage treatment systems include one, two, and three-family dwellings and small flow on-site sewage treatment systems (facilities that treat up to 1,000 gallons per day). Proper system siting and design, soils evaluation, system owner education, and operation inspections and maintenance of systems are essential to help prevent future contamination and public health nuisances.

Larger commercial sewage systems fall under the jurisdiction of the Ohio EPA.

Sewage Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program

The O&M program requires every STS in the county to have an O&M permit. Permits will ensure systems are monitored and maintained on a regular basis so that failing systems may be identified and addressed. A STS that is not properly functioning can release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals into the groundwater and local waterways. This poses a risk of spreading various diseases in the community, as well as, polluting drinking water and the environment.

Please follow this link for information about HCPH's O&M Program.

New Installation, Replacement, Alteration of Sewage Treatment Systems

Permits for a new installation, replacement, or alteration of a private sewage treatment system are issued after a site review is conducted at the location. A site review is completed once the sewage treatment system Design Review Application, Tax Map Office address assignment letter, appropriate design review fee, and a soil report and/or design are received. Records of existing permits are kept on file.

To help move the approval process along smoothly, we strongly encourage property owners and buyers to:

Take precautions to protect area(s) designated for sewage treatment
Identify the property with the address and mark the property lines.
Ensure flags/stakes for all proposed areas are visible.

Lot Splits

Prior to splitting any parcel of land, no matter the size, contact either the Huron County Soil & Water Conservation District at 419-668-4113 Ext. 3 or the Huron County Tax Map Office at 419-668-2021. A technical review committee reviews proposed lot splits to ensure regional planning requirements are met in order to record the land parcel(s) and provide a property address.

OEPA WPCLF Application is Now Available for 2024!

Huron County Public Health (HCPH) is excited to announce another round of funding available to assist Huron County residents in replacing or repairing failing household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) through the Environmental Health Protection Agency (OEPA)’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF).

To be eligible for funding, individuals must:

Live in Huron County, Ohio;
Own their own home (property must be owner-occupied and purchased December 31, 2023 or before);
Have current property tax payments paid up-to-date;
Have a household sewage treatment system that is either failing or in need of repair (to be verified by HCPH); and
The applicant and all individuals living in the home over the age of 18 must have a total combined income level that falls within 100% - 300% of the 2023 federal poverty line as shown in the table below:

Table H-2. 2023 U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Poverty Guidelines for Households

For families with more than 8 persons, add $5,140 for each person.

Select the button below to be directed to the WPCLF Application

Applications must be submitted to HCPH no later than Friday, April 4, 2025 at 4:00pm.

Questions?

Contact HCPH's Environmental Health Division at 419-668-1652 ext.239 or environmental@huroncohealth.com

Apply

Sewage Treatment System Contractors

Any person or business that constructs, replaces, alters, repairs, seals/abandons, services, or evaluates a private sewage treatment system or transports, collects, or disposes of domestic septage must register through each health district they work. Each type of sewage treatment system contractor must meet specific registration requirement including continuing education specified by ODH. Call or email the Environmental Division for additional information.

Call or email the Environmental Health Division for additional information at:

419-668-1652 Ext. 239 or environmental@huroncohealth.com.