Operation & Maintenance Management

Operation & Maintenance Management Program Lake County General Health District

Dan Lark, R.S. (EH Director)Chris Loxterman, R.S. (EH Supervisor)Dan Sinclair, R.S. (Sanitarian II)

HSTS are one of the most under valued utility in ones home. Its constantly working day or night even when your not home.

Proper care and maintenance will help to ensure your system continues to work for at least 25-30 years.

Why Is Regular HSTS Maintenance A Good Idea?

Money. Failing HSTS are expensive to replace. Common cause of failure is lack of maintenance.

Health of your family and community. Contact with wastewater can pose a significant risk to public health. Wastewater from failing HSTS can contaminate nearby wells, groundwater, and drinking water sources.

Economic health of your community. Failing septic systems can cause property values to decline. Wastewater pollution of local waterways and shorelines can negatively impact communities recreational/commercial activities and contribute to harmful algae blooms.

3 Reasons To Maintain Your HSTS

On January 1, 2015, a new set of sewage rules went into effect to govern all Sewage Treatment Systems (STS) in the State of Ohio.

The code it replaces was created in 1977 and was significantly outdated. Like most health departments, LCGHD maintained more stringent set of local rules for most of that period of time.New Rules for the State of OhioOHIO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 3701-29

Changes In The State CodeRequires LHD to create operation & maintenance program and establish operation permit terms and conditions. (OAC 3701-29-19(A))All STS shall have an operation permit and be maintained in proper working condition. No person shall operate a STS without an operation permit, and STS owners must comply with the terms & conditions of the permit. (OAC 3701-29-09(I))

LCGHD Plan In Developing an O &M Program OAC 3701-29-19 BOH shall develop a program for the administration of O & M Management for STS & provide education on STS to homeowners.

(1) LCGHD has operated an O & M inspection program since the mid 80s. (2) O & M will now be required on all existing STS. (OAC 3701-29-09(I))

(3) LCGHD has established a phased step approach to enrolling all existing STS. ( ~12,000 systems)

Operation & Maintenance Program

Phased Approach over 5 years

Phase I

All permitted STS installations, replacements & alterations in 2015 and those thereafter will be automatically enrolled into the program. This includes all NPDES discharging STS installed after January 1, 2007. Operation & Maintenance

Phase IIEnroll all discharging HSTS installed prior to January 1, 2007. These discharging systems if not operating properly directly impact the quality of our natural water resources.Phase II will work in concert with the LCGHD Storm water program.This phase will occur in 2017

Operation & Maintenance

Phase IIIEnrolling all existing drip distribution systems and mound systems that were installed under the experimental concurrence (prior to 2007) and for systems installed from 2007 to the effective date of the rules. This phase will occur in 2018

Operation & Maintenance

Phase IVEnroll all STS located in our subdivisions built prior to 2007. This phase will be occurring in 2019.

Phase VEnroll all existing systems not included under any other phase LCGHD will focus on oldest systems 1st, nuisance conditions in neighborhoods & water quality impacts.Enrollment of HSTS evaluated for real estate point of sale inspections.This phase will be occurring in 2020.Operation & Maintenance

LCGHD will issue an operation permit to owners of Sewage Treatment Systems.

Owners will be notified by LCGHD to obtain an operational permit.

Permits will expire and owner must renew them.

Owners will need to provide proof of compliance with the permit conditions or be subject to an Operation Inspection by LCGHD staff.

Whats All This Mean For Homeowners

Operation PermitRequires certain maintenance of each type of septic system.System observation & maintenance is done by a registered LCGHD Service Provider. Service providers must send reports to LCGHDOperation InspectionInspections of STS my be performed by LCGHD staff (visible components only) and done on a Pass/Fail basis. A fee will be charged.

Operation Permit and Operation Inspection

1st letter will be sent thru regular mail, with application, list of service providers and O & M factsheet.

Letters will specify permit amount, system type, maintenance requirements, service frequency, 30 days to comply.

2nd letter sent regular mail

3rd letter sent certified mail

How LCGHD Will Notify Homeowners Of The Permit

Fees will range between $20 to $40 per year Septic tank to leaching trench or mound will be $20 and will required service once every 3 years.

Aerobic Treatment Units to Trench or mound will be $40 and will required service once per year.

Septic tank or ATU to drip distribution will be $40 and will require service two times per year.

NPDES discharging ATUs will be $160 per year (includes required annual sampling) and will require service two times per year.

Operation Permit Cost to Homeowners

Homeowners must have an Operation Permit.

Homeowners with NPDES (EPA) approved systems must complete required sampling and have a mandatory service contract.

All other homeowners with septic systems must either complete the required maintenance or be subject to the LCGHD routine inspection. What Is Required Of Homeowners?

Each septic system has a set of minimum service requirements. Service requirements available at www.lcghd.org Service providers must submit an inspection report and LCGHD will review these reports and follow-up when necessary.Service providers must utilize LCGHD standardized inspection report.LCGHD will be conducting Quality Assurance inspections on all service providers that choose to provide required maintenance.

What Is Required Of Service Providers?

A homeowner may demonstrate the required O&M of their system in lieu of having board of health inspection. This may include securing a service contract or homeowner being CERTIFIED for O&M service by a manufacture for systems installed after Jan 1st 2007.

Sewage Treatment Systems installed prior to 2007 require no certification from the manufacture, but homeowner must provide proof of competency to the LCGHD if they plan on servicing their own systems.

Homeowner Certification

Homeowners who service their own systems will be exempt from state licensing and bonding requirements.

Homeowners must register with LCGHD and provide proof of competency to service their own STS. Registration fee may be applied

LCGHD will offer educational/training classes to homeowners who would like to service their own STSHomeowner Certification

Thank You!Contact InformationDan Lark, R.SEnvironmental Health DirectorOne Victoria Square, Suite 125Painesville, OH 44077(440) 350-2543dlark@lcghd.org

Chris Loxterman, R.S.SupervisorOne Victoria Square, Suite 125Painesville, OH 44077(440) 350-2543cloxterman@lcghd.org

Dan Sinclair, R.S.Sanitarian IIOne Victoria Square, Suite 125Painesville, OH 44077(440) 350-2543dsinclair@lcghd.org

New LCGHD Location Soon:

5966 Heisley Rd.Mentor, OH 44060