The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regulates sewage treatment systems across the state through statutory authority established under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 3718 and Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-29 which was updated and became effective on January 1, 2015, permitting, inspections and enforcement to be conducted by local health departments.
PCHD helps homeowners ensure their sewage treatment system (STS) are being properly maintained by conducting evaluations, keeping records, and providing information or education on their systems. PCHD also conducts site reviews and issues permits to make sure that new STS are designed to current environmental engineering standards so they properly treat wastewater for homes that do not have sewer access.
Have questions on the building process and septic system, click here: Sewage
Putnam County Health Department mailed out Renew Sewage Treatment System Letter in November 2022. Attached is a sample letter.
Maintaining Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS, also known as septic systems) so that they may operate properly to increase the life of the system and decrease the risk of causing a public health nuisance.
State law requires operation permits and regular maintenance of Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS). The laws related to the O&M Program are:
o OAC 3701-29-19: Operation and Maintenance
o ORC 3718.02(A)(5): Operation Permits
o ORC 3718.02(A)(3)(c): Maintenance
o ORC 3718.02(A)(7): Board of Health required to develop program
• Each county is tasked with the responsibility of issuing operation permits for all sewage treatment systems in the county.
The fee for the 5-year Operation Permit is $75. The permit will need to be renewed every 5 years.
Only complete the information you know. If you are unsure of the tank location, you may want to consider having a registered service provider perform the evaluation and assist in locating the tank.
A new system or system upgrades are NOT required unless the current system is causing a public nuisance and it cannot be repaired or remediated. There may be income based grant funding available for the replacement of a system, should it be failing or causing a public nuisance that cannot be repaired or remediated. Please contact the Putnam County Health Department for more information on available grant funding.
Please contact Lisa Pope at the Putnam County Health Department to discuss the Vacant Dwelling process at (419)523-5608, ext. 115.
1. When you receive the Operation and Maintenance Permit application, complete the required information, sign and date the application. Please use the enclosed aerial view of the property to indicate the location of the HSTS (septic system) and well. Return the completed application and aerial map, along with the required fee, to the Putnam County Health Department, 256 E. Williamstown Road, Ottawa, OH 45875,
2. PCHD will process your application and mail a copy of your O & M Permit along with educational HSTS information and a list of Registered Service Providers.
3. Follow the Terms and Conditions of the Operation Permit:
3a. EVALUATION of the household sewage treatment system will be required one time within each 5-year permit cycle. The evaluation is a visual inspection to determine the location of the STS area, check for any nuisance conditions, and to determine the outlet location. If the outlet is located within 200 feet of an open waterway (a ditch, river, etc.) the outlet will be checked for any evidence of nuisance conditions entering the open waterway.
→ You may contact a registered service provider to perform the evaluation.
→ You may have a Putnam County Health Department employee conduct the evaluation at their convenience.
→ You may call the Putnam County Health Department to schedule a time to perform the evaluation while you are present. For the safety of our employees, if you have an off leash dog and are having the PCHD employee perform the evaluation, you MUST call to schedule the evaluation.
3b. PUMP the tank at least once every 10 years. Contact a sewage hauler who is registered in Putnam County. The registered hauler will submit a copy of the pumping report to the Putnam County Health Department.
3c. System specific service contracts must be maintained and reported to the health department. *If applicable to your specific HSTS.
o NPDES system requirements of maintaining and testing must be met and reported to the health department. *If you have an NPDES specific HSTS.
3d. RENEWAL OF PERMIT UPON EXPIRATION (EVERY 5 YEARS)
Lisa Pope, Environmental Health Technician
Putnam County Health Department
p.419-523-5608, ext. 115
