The Wayne County Health Department Environmental Health (EH) Unit is the first place to contact if you want to install a new sewage treatment system (STS), or alter, replace or abandon your existing sewage system. The EH Unit will work with you to ensure a comprehensive review of your system, property, and water use to determine the best solutions for proper wastewater treatment for your home or to determine the correct repair of a malfunctioning system. The EH Unit offers the full range of services from the site and soil evaluation to system design (depending on the system complexity required) and inspections. A permit to install or alter a system must be obtained from the local health district before beginning any construction or repair activities on a system.
Individuals may either request a parcel or tract of property be evaluated by EH Unit to determine the feasibility of installing a new or replacement sewage treatment system (STS) to serve a one, two or three family dwelling or a small flow on-site sewage treatment system (SFOSTS) for facilities which would generate less than 1000 gallons per day by any the following methods.
How To Obtain a Permit To Install Or Alter Or Abandon a Sewage Treatment System
Individuals may obtain a Permit to Install or a Permit to Alter a sewage treatment system to serve a one, two or three family dwelling (STS) or a small flow on-site sewage treatment system (SFOSTS) from the EH Unit after the approval of the submitted design plan. Once approved, a permit application is required. A registered septic installer and homeowner* must be named on permit and permit fee paid to issue permits.
A homeowner may apply for and install a septic system if: Own the parcel as the primary residence and take a test regarding the Sewage code with an 80% passing grade.
Once the newly installed septic system is approved for use with submitted as-built information and the system passes a 12-month inspection an operating permit shall be issued. Soil-based septic system installations must have prior approval by the EH Unit to begin construction from November 1 to April 30.
Variance Request
A board of health may grant a variance from the requirements of the sewage rules when a person has made written application for a variance to the board requesting the variance and the applicant shows that because of practical difficulties, or other special conditions, compliance with this chapter will cause unusual and unnecessary hardship.
Request for Real Estate Evaluation
Any 1, 2, or 3-family dwelling within the jurisdiction of Wayne County Public Health that is served by an STS may request an inspection on each system before the property transfers ownership. This is not a requirement in Wayne County. Homes with an STS that require an inspection by the lender or buyer must have a registered service provider or a sanitarian from the EH Unit conduct the evaluation prior to transfer.
View the basic overview of the different types of STS components, the different type of STS systems and the associated maintenance with each system.
Nearly one-fifth of American households depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater and failure to maintain a septic system can lead to backups, malfunctions and early failures that can result is costly repairs. The EPA's SepticSmart programs educate homeowners about the proper system care and maintenance all year long.