Sewage

Program Goal: To ensure that residents of the community do not experience disease, adverse health effects or nuisances resulting from improperly or inadequately treated sewage.

Program Responsibility: The Board of Health is responsible to apply and enforce Revised Code Chapter 3718 (law) and Administrative Code Chapter 3701-29 (rules) concerning the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of sewage treatment systems serving 1, 2, and 3 family dwellings.

  • Evaluate proposed lot splits for approval
  • Evaluate property to determine if and where a sewage treatment system can be placed
  • Issue new, replacement, and alteration permits for sewage treatment systems
  • Inspect installation, operation, and maintenance of sewage treatment systems
  • Abate sewage nuisances
  • Register sewage system installers, service providers, and septage haulers who work and provide service in Morrow County

Site Review: The health district evaluates all vacant properties that require a home sewage disposal system prior to building. This review determines the availability of a building site on a property. This preliminary site review will be conducted once you submit soil evaluation and system design forms to the Health Department.  You can find a link to the current list of Soil Scientists by clicking HERE and a list of System Designers by clicking HERE.

You may print the Application for Site Review and mail it to the Health Department with the appropriate fee, or bring the application to the office personally. If you mail the application, please include a daytime phone number. You will be contacted to schedule the appointment when the application, soil evaluation form, system design form, and fee have been received. Please be sure to fill the application out completely.

Helpful Forms & Links:

Septic Real Estate Inspection (for home sale/refinance):

This is an inspection/evaluation of an existing home sewage disposal system prior to the sale or refinancing of a home: These are usually requested by the financial institution. A real estate inspection is not required by the Morrow County Board of Health. Please call your Service Provider to schedule.

Click here for Sewage Rules and Regulations

septic

Septic System Maintenance

Preventing groundwater pollution from failing septic systems should be a priority for every community and every homeowner. Contamination of the groundwater source can lead to the pollution of local wells, streams, lakes, and ponds exposing family, friends, and neighbors to waterborne diseases and other serious health risks.

The following tips are provided to help homeowners get the most out of their septic systems while at the same time ensure protection from unnecessary repair costs.

  1. Do not dump hazardous chemicals down the drain. If your drain is plugged try using boiling water or a drain snake instead of chemical drain cleaners. Use less toxic cleaning supplies whenever possible. Take all hazardous chemicals to a hazardous waste drop-off for disposal.
  2. If you notice a sewage smell, a continuously wet area in your yard, lush vegetation around the septic tank or leach field, or liquid waste backing up through your drains, then something is not working properly. Call a licensed septic tank inspector immediately.
  3. Have your septic tank pumped every three to five years (more often if you have a garbage disposal). If the solid waste in the tank builds up too high, it can flow into the leach lines, plug them and cause your system to fail.
  4. Keep the solids in your system to a minimum. Do not use your toilet as a garbage can. Food waste, feminine hygiene products and other household solids are better placed in the garbage.
  5. Do not park or drive heavy equipment over your leach lines. This may compact the soil around the lines and prevent adequate percolation of the liquid waste, causing your system to fail.
  6. Do not plant trees near your leach line. Tree roots often seek out the moist environment inside your leach lines and plug them, causing your system to fail.
  7.  If you have a dual leach field system, change the diversion valve setting once a year.
  8. Do not use septic tank additives, yeast, bacteria, enzymes, or other products to enhance the system, none of these products have been proven to be beneficial and some can cause permanent damage.
Please click here for Sewage Forms (New Build Process Form, New Lot – Site Review Form, Soil Scientists, System Designers, Septic Permit, Registered Non-Mechanical service Providers, Registered Aeration Service Providers, Registered Installers, Registered Haulers).

For more information, please contact:

Dan Huddleston
daniel.huddleston@morrowcountyhealth.org
419-947-1545 ext. 306