Household Sewage Treatment System�Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program Overview

O&M Program Overview

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• As of January 1, 2015, local health departments are required under ORC 3718 and OAC 3701-29-19 to have an Operation and Maintenance Program (O&M) for household sewage treatment systems in their jurisdiction.

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Lorain County Public Health

O&M Program Overview

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• OAC 3701-29-19 The Board of Health shall develop a program for the Administration of O&M management for HSTS (Household Sewage Treatment System) and GWRS (Grey Water Recycling System) and owner education in compliance with division A(7) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code and this chapter.

Lorain County Public Health

O&M Program Overview

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• The purpose of the O&M Program is to protect water quality in Lorain County by identifying and minimizing the impact household sewage treatment systems have on the environment and to increase homeowner knowledge of their systems.

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Lorain County Public Health

O&M Program Overview

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• Lorain County Public Health is responsible for overseeing the proper maintenance of more than 18,000+ household sewage treatment systems, many of which we have very limited information about due to their age

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Lorain County Public Health

O&M Program Overview

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• ~19,000 systems records.
• Approximately half of the HSTS in Lorain County were installed before 1970
• The vast majority of our known systems' operational condition is unknown, or we need more information.
• The discharge type is unknown for nearly 25% of our known systems.

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Lorain County Public Health

Older Sewage Systems - ORC 3718.012

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• A sewage treatment system that was in operation prior to the rules (2015) shall not be required to be replaced and shall be deemed approved if the system does not cause a public health nuisance.

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• If the system is causing a public health nuisance, repairs can be made to the system that eliminate the public health nuisance as determined by the applicable board of health.

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• Contact LCPH for all repair plans.

Lorain County Public Health

Operation & Maintenance Permit

• All household sewage treatment systems in Lorain County will be required to have an O&M Permit issued by Lorain County Public Health as of 2024.

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Lorain County Public Health

Operation & Maintenance Permit

• Household sewage treatment systems installed, replaced, altered, or inspected by Lorain County Public Health since January 1, 2015 are already enrolled in the O&M Program.

Lorain County Public Health

O&M Permit Fee & Renewal

• The O&M Permit is $120 ($40/year)

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• Permit is valid for 3 Years (2024-2026)

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• This permit fee and renewal frequency will remain in effect until the Board of Health, upon recommendations and options provided, elects to change it.

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• Homeowners can select either the 3 year ($120) or annual ($40) permit period.

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Lorain County Public Health

Operation Permit Fee Comparison

As of March 2023

LCPH O&M Fee: $120 ($40/year)

Lorain County Public Health

Operation Permit Fee & Renewal

• LCPH set fees for the O&M Permit utilizing state-approved cost methodology.

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• The O&M Permit fee only covers activities under this program and cannot be used for indirect costs or other programs.

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• The O&M program is mandated by the State but it’s not a state funded program.

Lorain County Public Health

O&M Permit Fee: What does it go toward?

• O&M database management and maintenance.

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• Inventory and tracking of systems.

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• Mileage, postage/mailing, supplies.

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• Sewage nuisance / complaint inspections and abatements.

Lorain County Public Health

O&M Permit Fee: What does it go toward?

• Watershed Studies.

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• Staff time to oversee and evaluate the program.

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• Uploading of pumping, service slips, and inspections from

contractors.

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• Educational materials for homeowners/contractors.

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Lorain County Public Health

Operation Permit - Requirements

• System requirements will be denoted on their permit and are based off system age and type. https://www.lcboh.com/lcphmap/

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• Homeowner can choose to have their O&M requirements/inspections completed by a registered service provider or elect to do their own.

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• If LCPH does not receive proof of required system maintenance, an inspection will be done by LCPH, at a cost to the homeowner.

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Lorain County Public Health

Service Contracts - When Required

• An operation permit shall require a service contract for a HSTS under certain conditions or as required by the Board of Health. 3701-29-09-I (2)(c).

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• All NPDES permitted systems after January 1, 2007.

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• Sewage systems that include a pretreatment component that were permitted as of January 1, 2015. (Aeration motor, UV disinfection, re-aeration, peat filters, bio-kinetic or other biological filters - not installed in the initial treatment tank).

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Lorain County Public Health

Service Contracts - Not Required

• Recommendations to protect your home, health, environment and property value:

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• Have your septic system inspected (in general) every three years by a registered contractor and have the tank pumped, when necessary, generally every three to five years.

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• Filters in systems, such as upflow filters, zabel filters, tuff-tite filters, biokinetic filters, fabric filters, should be cleaned every 6 months.

Lorain County Public Health

Requirements - Registered Service Providers

• Homeowner may choose to have registered service providers perform their required O&M inspections.
• List of registered service providers are on LorainCountyHealth.com/sewage

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• LCPH will accept these inspections in lieu of performing our own onsite evaluation.

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• LCPH may still elect to perform inspections as needed.

Lorain County Public Health

Requirements – Homeowner

• Homeowner may opt to perform their own O&M requirements OAC 3701-29-19 (D).

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• Homeowner must become certified by their system manufacturer to perform O&M maintenance on their system.

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• Certification must be provided to LCPH.

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• LCPH may still elect to perform inspections - as needed. OAC 3701-29-23 (A)

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Lorain County Public Health

Requirements – LCPH

• If required documentation of maintenance has not been provided to LCPH by the homeowner, LCPH will perform O&M maintenance inspection(s). OAC 3701-29-23 (3)

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• Homeowner will be notified and assessed an additional inspection / re-inspection and/or sampling fee as required.

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• If LCPH finds inadequacies / nuisances, a service provider will be required to make the necessary repairs to bring the system back into good working condition and abate all nuisance conditions.

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Lorain County Public Health

Discharging Systems - Sampling

• OAC 3701-29-19 (E)
• Owners of HSTS that have obtained coverage under NPDES permits shall obtain (Annual) effluent samples for monitoring. Samples shall either be collected by the board of health or a registered service provider.
• Systems that do not meet the action limits of their effluent sampling, set by the Ohio EPA, must provide maintenance, service, repair, or alteration of their system as required to meet these action limits.
• LCPH will charge a fee for sampling.

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Lorain County Public Health

Facts vs. Myths

Lorain County Public Health

Facts vs. Myths

Lorain County Public Health

Facts vs. Myths

Lorain County Public Health

Program Rollout

• All homeowners with a HSTS in Lorain County are required to have an O&M permit issued by LCPH:

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• Homeowners on the annual billing cycle will receive an invoice in November 2024 that's due January 31, 2025.

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• The permit fee for 1 year is $40.

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• Homeowners on the 3 year billing cycle (2024-2026) have a valid permit through the end of 2026.

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*Updated 12/17/2024

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Lorain County Public Health

New Online Database

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• Find info on your HSTS.

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• Report incorrect information.

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• Also available at LorainCountyHealth.com/sewage

Lorain County Public Health

Questions & Answers

Lorain County Public Health

Lorain County Public Health

Residential Sewage Program

Phone: 440-322-6367�LorainCountyHealth.com/sewage

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Thank you.