New Rules for Homeowners with Sewage Treatment Systems

There is a new guideline in place for homeowners who have a sewage treatment system.

The Ohio Department of Health has adopted new statewide sewage treatment system rule that requires all homeowners to prove their systems are working properly and receives regular maintenance. In Muskingum County 100 homeowners with aeration system are affected. It also informs them purchase a $25 annual operation permit.

“It’s basically a permit to operate your system. So your getting a one-year permit to maintain and operate your system and then you’ll be working with a service provider to help you maintain it and keep everything working properly,” said Ann Hollingsworth, Public Health Sanitarian for Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department.

Hollingsworth said the purpose of this new program is to protect public health and the environment by keeping systems working longer.

“The general idea of the rule change and having an operations permit is to make people aware that you have a sewage treatment system in your yard don’t ignore it maintain it and that will also help prevent replacing the system in the future,” said Hollingsworth.

The deadline for submitting an inspection report including the $25 permit fee is October 1st of this year for the 100 affected residents. There is no timeline for the rest of the county. For more information visit: www.zmchd.org.