On-Site Septic Systems

In Ohio, approximately 25% of the population relies on septic systems.  This includes rural areas, some suburbs and small towns.  How does a septic system work?  If your house has an on-site septic system, it basically means that that your wastewater from sinks, showers, toilets, etc flows into a septic tank which allows the solids to settle out and the effluent(wastewater) to flow into the leach field on the property.  If these systems are properly designed, installed an maintained, these systems are functional and sanitary.  Components of any type of septic system can be costly and do not have an indefinite life.

There are a variety of on-site septic systems types used in the the watershed.  The most common type of on-site septic system is the septic tank/soil absorption (leach field) system.  The other commonly used types in the watershed are the aeration(aerobic) system and more recently the mound system.  Each County in the watershed has a set of regulations regarding septic systems.  These rules are linked in the Health Department contacts section below.

The Ohio State University Extension and the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) have published many  of the fact sheets and guides listed below.  A few of the sources are from Cornell University Cooperative Extension and Texas Agricultural Extension Service (Texas A&M).  These are available by clicking on the links as desired:

A.    General Fact Sheets:

1. Terminology for On-site Wastewater treatment plants
2. Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems
3. Homeowner Septic System Checklist
4. Septic System Frequently Asked Questions
5. Why Do Septic Systems Malfunction?
6. On-Site Wastewater Management
7. Onsite Wastewater Management: Cost and Financing
8. Calculating Loadings Rates for Design of Small Flow Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Hydraulic vs. Organic Loading

B.    Soils and Site Evaluation:

1. Limiting Layers in Ohio Soils—Restrictions to Wastewater Treatment
2. Suitability of Ohio Soils for Treating Wastewater
3. Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment

C.    Types of Septic Systems:

1. Septic Tank and Leach field system- Traditional Systems
2. Aeration/Aerobic Systems

3. Mound System

1. Septic Tank- Mound System

2. Mound Systems for On-site Wastewater Treatment- Siting, Design and Construction in Ohio
3. Mound System: Pressure Distribution of Wastewater Design and Construction in Ohio

D.    Installing a septic system:

1.  Soil Evaluation for Home Septic Systems

E.    Maintaining a septic system:   

1. Septic System Maintenance- Traditional System
2. Managing Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
3. Managing Septic Tank- Mound Systems

F.    Septic System Rules and Regulations:

1. Wastewater Treatment Principles and Regulations - General

Local Health Department Contacts

Champaign County Health District

Champaign County Health District
1512 South U.S. Highway 68, Suite Q100
Urbana, OH 43078

Phone: (937)484-1605

Web page: http://www.champaignhd.com/
Septic System section of site: http://www.champaignhd.com/inspections-licensing/residential-sewage-systems/

Champaign County Sewage and Septic Treatment rules (Effective date: September 25, 2007)
 

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Franklin County Board of Health/Columbus Public Health

Franklin County Board of Health

Memorial Hall
280 East Broad St., Room 200

Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614)462-3160
Web page: http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/board_of_health/
Franklin County Board of Health Sewage Treatment Regulations (Effective date: October 18, 2007)
 

Columbus Public Health

240 Parsons Ave.

Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614)645-7417
Web page: http://www.publichealth.columbus.gov/about/contact.asp
Franklin County Board of Health Sewage Treatment Regulations (Effective date: October 18, 2007)

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Logan County Health District

Logan County Health District
310 South Main St.
Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937)592-9040
Web page: http://www.loganhealth.org/
Septic System section of site: http://www.loganhealth.org/EH/HSTS.html
Codes and Regulations: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/final/f3701-29.aspx (Effective: July 7, 2007)

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Madison County- London City Health District

Madison County Health Department
306 Lafayette St, Suite B
PO Box: 467
London, OH 43140
Phone: (740)852-3065
Web page: http://www.co.madison.oh.us/10122/index.html
Environmental Health Section: http://www.co.madison.oh.us/10122/13322.html

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Pickaway County Health Department

Pickaway County Health Department
465 East Ohio St.
PO Box: 613
Circleville, OH 43113
Phone: (740)477- 9667
Web page: http://www.pchd.org/
Sewage System Section of website
Sewage Disposal Regulations (Effective: January 2008)

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Union County Health Department

Union County Health Department
940 London Ave, Suite 1100
Marysville, OH 43040
Phone: (937) 642-2053
Web page: www.uchd.net
Sewage System Section of website
Sewage Treatment System Rules (Effective: July 7, 2008)

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All information found on this website is for informational purposes only by the Darby Joint Board of Supervisors. All text, images, logos and information contained on this website are property of the Joint Board and they may not be used or reproduced without permission of the Joint Board. 
For problems or questions regarding this website please contact the Darby Watershed Coordinator.
Last updated: November 18, 2008.