SCPH shares septic changes with Springfield

4/2/2015 - South Side Leader

SPRINGFIELD Springfield trustees invited Summit County Public Health (SCPH) Water Quality Supervisor Ryan Pruett to the March 26 meeting to discuss changes in regulations coming for the 33,000 septic system users in the county.

Pruett stated the new changes, which went into effect Jan. 1, are designed to address faulty systems. [See related story above.]

We are worried about the ditches and green space affected by failing septic systems, said Pruett. Whats new is that all septic systems will have to have an operational permit. In addition, contractors will be required to file inspection reports on septic systems they service [in the county] to Summit County Public Health.

Pruett explained there are several different types of septic systems, including ones that release gray water or partially treated water that flows into ditches and eventually into waterways, and the changes being adopted will ensure this water is clean.

The permits will be required beginning this spring from all National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) types and other septic systems that were installed prior to 2007 in odd years and continue with discharging systems installed from 2007 to 2013 in odd years. The permit process will continue in 2016 with NPDES systems and those installed prior to 2007 in even years and then with those systems installed from 2008 to 2014.

The permit process will continue through 2018, according to Pruett.

NPDES system owners will have to pay $30 for an annual permit, and all other types will pay $20 or $30 for a two-year permit, according to Pruett.

He added that all NPDES permit holders will be required to complete required sampling, and other septic system owners must complete required maintenance. Service contractors will be required to file reports on all inspections to SCPH, and SCPH officials will monitor these reports and follow up when necessary.

Those systems that are deemed to be failing or not working must be fixed, said Pruett.

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SCPH shares septic changes with Springfield