The Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department hopes to clarify concerns regarding the recent changes to septic system rules.
“It’s not often we actually get to talk to homeowners, for example, about their septic systems, and what they do and everything else, so the nice thing is actually being able to have these chances just to get that word out there that we are here to help them with their sewage system,” said Matt Work, Director of Environmental Health at Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department in an interview in February.
Although the new rules are not yet in place, and may not be until either May 1, 2014 or January 1, 2015, according to Work. The push, he says, is toward the January date to allow time for new forms to be put together, as well as installer, service provider, and homeowner education.
Work explained that the proposed rules must pass the Ohio Public Health Advisory Board, then the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review before being submitted for the governor’s signature.
“They actually had taken some comments after the last second draft, and I know those are being incorporated to some extent, or they could be,” noted Work.
Comments on the proposed rules changes were accepted for thirty days and resulted in some 68 pages of comment.
Some local residents were concerned over the report that 34 percent of septic systems in the Northwest district, which included Richland County, were failing.
“In a lot of cases, ‘failures’ are the ones classified as being older. That does not mean they have failed, but that they have the potential to fail,” responded Work.
“Sewage systems are designed to work for about thirty to forty years. With good attention and care, and if they are well sited and well designed, they may last longer than that,” explained Work. “Conversely, if they are overused or not taken care of, they can fail sooner. Just like a roof on your house, or a furnace in your house, eventually they are going to have to be replaced.”
Work said the health departments defines failing as those systems as those that are creating a public health nuisance.
“When we go out, if we see sewage surfacing from the ground, or if we see a discharge from the sewage system that is black and odorous, then we would check further to see if we have a high fecal coliform count or a high biological demand that means it’s not being properly treated,” said Work.
“Just because a system has failed doesn’t mean it has to be replaced,” noted Work, “It doesn’t mean that it can’t be fixed.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a web page dedicated to avoiding septic system failure.
“We have averaged 13 to 15 replacement systems per year,” noted Work.
There are no centralized databases of the septic systems in each county and therefore no reliable count of systems. Work estimates that there are 15,000 to 16,000 septic systems in Richland County.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has a webpage devoted to dispelling rumors about the new rules, which covers the issue of “grandfathering in” systems as well as operational permits and other fees.
Operational permits, according to Work, are issued after final inspection of newly installed systems, and annual inspections are not currently done, and are not required under the new rules. The only exception is a final inspection one year after new systems are installed.
The costs of new systems will vary depending on the type of system required. This could be a factor in selecting new home sites, and the ODH offers guidelines at their website.
The new rules will allow some “green” options, including grey water recycling and, according to Work, some incinerating and composting toilets.
“For composting toilets, the only prevision is it has to pumped out by a septage hauler and taken to a treatment plant or land applied at an approved site,” noted Work. “With an incinerating toilet, the ash is solid waste and just has to go to a landfill. The only thing we want to make sure people understand is that they can’t take a composting toilet and put it on the garden after they are done with it.”
In response to fears that the health department may use the new rules to evict homeowners, Work responded, “We have never condemned a house on a sewage system. We have ordered it to be fixed, but we have never condemned a home on a sewage system.”
“We actually help protect property values by making sure that the systems are fixed and working properly,” he said. “So we’re protecting actually the property owner that may not be happy with us because we are telling them they have to replace their sewage system, and we’re also protecting the neighbor’s property values.”
“Any group or person that has concerns or misconceptions, our door is open to talk to them,” added Work. “In a lot of cases, they’ve heard something, but they haven’t heard the whole story, and that’s where we can help.”
Concerned parties may call 419-774-4500 and ask for Environmental Health, or check the website materials.
“So we’re protecting actually the property owner that may not be happy with us because we are telling them they have to replace their sewage system, and we’re also protecting the neighbor’s property values,” said Matt Work.
