Household Sewage Treatment Systems - Lorain County Public Health

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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 18,000 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. View permit conditions online.

Homeowners on the annual billing cycle will receive an invoice in November 2025 that's due January 31, 2026.
- The permit fee for 1 year is $40.
Homeowners on the 3 year billing cycle have a valid permit through the end of 2026.
- The permit fee for 3 years is $120.
The 2025 annual billing cycle is now complete. All outstanding fees may be assessed to your property as a special assessment and collected with your 2026 property taxes.

Grants and Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to help Lorain County homeowners replace a failing home sewage treatment system (HSTS) and properly abandon the existing one. This funding is intended to support lower-income households that lack the financial resources to replace failing systems. The grant program focuses on systems that pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of residents, the community, or the environment.

Grant and O&M funds are limited, time-sensitive, and available for homeowners who meet income requirements. Please contact Ali Schneider at aschneider@loraincountyhealth.com or 440-610-7334 with questions about financial assistance.

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