Household Sewage Treatment Systems

I Want To

Your household sewage and the waters they impact.

What is O&M?
In January 2015, the Ohio Department of Health adopted new rules regarding Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) in Ohio (Ohio Revised Code: 3718 and Ohio Administrative Code: Chapter 3701-29). These rules require each health department across the state to implement a local Operation and Maintenance (O&M) program to monitor and ensure the proper function of HSTS in their jurisdictions.

Lorain County Public Health (LCPH) works to protect people and the environment by making sure that HSTS work as designed - if HSTS don't work properly, they may negatively impact local watersheds by adding bacteria and pollution. LCPH is responsible for overseeing the proper maintenance of more than 20,000 HSTS many of which we have limited information about.

All homeowners with a HSTS in Lorain County are required to have an O&M permit issued by LCPH:

Newly enrolled homeowners can select a 1 year or a 3 year permit.
If you would like to change your permit period, email EH@loraincountyhealth.com or call 440-284-3240 with your name, address, and invoice number.
The permit fee of $40 (1 year) or $120 (3 year) is due by April 30, 2024
Permit conditions are viewable now on the database.
If you didn't receive an invoice and have an HSTS please contact us.
If an invoice was mailed in incorrectly, please visit your address on our database and report incorrect information at bit.ly/HSTSdatabase. You can also notify our sewage team by emailing eh@loraincountyhealth.com or calling 440-284-3240.

What's next? After payment is received, the permit will be available digitally.

Grants and Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to help Lorain County homeowners to replace a failing HSTS, or to connect to an existing sanitary sewer and properly abandon their HSTS. This grant program is intended for systems that pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of occupants, the community, and the environment.

Financial assistance may also be available for homeowners Operation & Maintenance (O&M) permit fees.

Grant and O&M funds are limited, time-sensitive, and available for homeowners who meet income requirements. Please contact our team at EH@loraincountyhealth.com or 440-322-6367 with questions about financial assistance.