Household Sewage Treatment Systems

Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) inspects, monitors, and issues permits for over 24,000 household sewage treatment systems (like septic systems) in Lorain County. LCPH’s water quality program helps protect local streams, rivers, and other watersheds of Lake Erie. LCPH also helps educate owners on how to take care of their household sewage treatment systems.

Contact Lorain County Public Health at 440-322-6367 with questions about household sewage treatment systems. Click here to report a septic or sewage issue.

Household Sewage Treatment System Grant Program

LCPH has a Grant Program to assist homeowners who lack the financial resources to replace failing household Sewage Treatment Systems (STS), especially those cases that pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of the occupant, the public, and the environment.  Funding may also be used to assist homeowners that need to connect to an existing sanitary sewer and properly abandon their STS.

Funding availability is limited, time sensitive, and requires specific income criteria.  Please contact Jill Lis at jlis@loraincountyhealth.com, or 440-322-6367, to ask about funding availability, general program questions, and applications.

Operation and Maintenance Program (O&M)

The O&M program protects water quality by tracking and monitoring the proper operation and maintenance of household sewage treatment systems (STS) or “septic systems”. LCPH is responsible for overseeing approximately 20,000 STS across Lorain County. This program is required by the State of Ohio and ensures these systems are not harmful to the environment. LCPH is hosting town hall meetings across the county in 2020 and 2021 to inform residents about this program. A listing of upcoming meetings is maintained below.

Program Commonly Asked Questions

How to Properly Maintain your Sewage Treatment System 

Site Review Application for New and Replacement Sewage Treatment Systems

Site Review Factsheet 

Septic Evaluation Request of a Household Sewage Treatment System (Home sale inspection)

Property Improvement Application for Homes with Sewage Treatment Systems

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How to properly maintain and operate your household sewage treatment system

Septic Systems (Leaching tile fields, design sand mounds, leaching trenches)

Aeration Systems (Leaching tile fields, design sand mounds, leaching trenches)

Spray Irrigation Systems  

National Pollutant Elimination Discharging System- NPDES 

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How to abandon an existing sewage treatment system

Application 

Factsheet 

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Lot Split Evaluations

Application 

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Rules and Regulations

Ohio Revised Code- 3718

Ohio Administrative Code- 3701-29

Lorain County Rules

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For contractors of household sewage treatment systems:

Lorain County Registration Applications

2021 Installer Application PDF

2021 Service Provider Application PDF

2021 Septage Hauler Application PDF

Commonly Requested Forms

Septage Hauler Vehicle Inspection Form 

As-Built Form 

NPDES Layout Form

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Surety Bonds, General Liability Requirements, Continuing Education Requirements and Classes

Ohio Department of Health’s Website
Ohio Department of Health Sewage Treatment System Page 
SepticSmart Homeowners [U.S. EPA]

Have a question? Click the map to contact the Sanitarian for your area.