Household Sewage

Household Sewage

Crawford County Public Health (CCPH) works to ensure safe drinking water by preventing contamination of surface and ground water from failing septic systems. Household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) serve 1, 2, or 3-family dwellings and are used where connection to a sanitary sewer system is not feasible. Our department interprets soil science, reviews designs for new HSTS, inspects installation of HSTS, and provides operational permits for the continued use of HSTS. The Crawford County Public Health is the regulatory authority in charge of residential septic systems up to and including triplexes. Please review the State-Wide Sewage Treatment Systems Regulations.

Procedures for Obtaining a Permit to Install and Operate a Sewage Treatment System (STS) in Crawford County

Please see the Sewage System Procedures Booklet for more information.

Items Needed Before CCPH Involvement

Soil Evaluation– A soil evaluation is required for every lot. The soil evaluation must be completed by a Registered Soil Scientist and submitted to CCPH. It is your responsibility to contact the entity of your choice and arrange to have the samples taken.

List of Soil Scientists

Choose your installer– It is your responsibility to contact, obtain bids, and choose a Registered Sewage Installer. If our office has received your soil science, it may be helpful for the prospective contractor to contact our office to inquire about design requirements.

List of Registered Septic System Installers

STS Design– A to-scale design of the sewage treatment system must be completed and submitted to our office. This design must follow the requirements outlined in ODH STS Rules Chapter 3701-2910.

ODH STS Rules Chapter 3701-29-10

Application for Site Review

Please complete the following form. You may complete the form and mail or drop it off to Crawford County Public Health at 1520 Isaac Beal Rd., Bucyrus, OH 44820 with the appropriate fee. For the site evaluation fee please go to the FEES link for a current fee schedule.

Sewage Site Review Application

*Please make all checks payable to Crawford County Public Health or CCPH.

*Credit cards are accepted in the office for a small fee.

If you would like to be present during the site review, please include a note with the request and a Sanitarian will contact you to set up an inspection time.

Application for a STS Installation Permit

After the site/plan review process has been completed, a permit may be issued. A signed installation permit is required at this time with appropriate fee. Please see our office for an installation permit application.

An STS installation permit is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.

Alteration Permit– An alteration permit is required whenever the system is altered in any way, or a new home is connected to an existing system. Please contact our office if you have any concerns about service done to your system. NEW, ALTERATION, and REPLACEMENT permits, please go to the FEES link for a current fee schedule.

Installation Approval of STS

The installer will contact our office to schedule the installation inspection. The system will be approved for usage once the Sanitarian completes the installation inspection and approves the system for burial.

A one-year inspection of your system is conducted by our office, at no charge to you, to insure that the system is functioning as designed.

Operation and Maintenance Permit (O&M Permit)

Once the system has been approved for use, the STS enters the operation permit phase. The O&M Permit is valid for 5 years, please refer to the current fee schedule for O & M Permit fees. A letter will be sent out notifying you when it is time to renew your O&M Permit. Operation permits are required for the life of the STS.

Your STS must be serviced as outlined by the manufacturer. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at (419) 562-5871.

Evaluation of Existing System (Sale of Property/Refinance)

If you have an existing house and an existing septic system and need to have the system evaluated for the sale or refinancing of the home our department can do a Sale of Property Inspection Request. Please note all instructions on the form and fill out as completely as possible.

Sale of Property Application

Caring for Your Septic System Brochure–How to keep your septic system working properly

List of Registered Septic System Installers— Companies registered with the health department to work on existing septic systems and install new/proposed septic systems.

List of Registered Septic Haulers/Pumpers— Companies registered to properly pump the septic tank

List of Sewage Service Providers –Companies registered to provide operation and maintenance inspections on your septic system