Permit Fees:

Unfortunately while this program is state-mandated, funding has not been provided, so Operation Permit fees have been established to assist LCGHD with funding for the following: the maintenance, management, and oversight of the electronic database used for system permitting and service records, personnel costs in reviewing service compliance documentation and conducting quality assurance inspections, postage, and homeowner education efforts and materials.

Permit Requirements:

LCGHD will evaluate compliance with your permit conditions based on submitted service reports, tank pumping reports, and/or service contracts with Lake County Registered Service Providers.

Just as different car models have varying maintenance requirements and schedules, Home Sewage Treatment Systems need design-specific maintenance as prescribed by system manufacturers.  For this reason, multiple permit maintenance requirements and fees have been established to fit these differing needs.  You can find your individual permit conditions on your Operation Permit which will specify the service requirement, frequency of service, and time frame for document submission.  To find more specific maintenance checklists for your system type, see the Links & Resources tab.

LCGHD has opted NOT to perform inspections of all systems to demonstrate compliance with permit conditions, as some other counties have.  Inspections would be very costly and would only identify issues, instead of providing the needed service to repair or prevent them.  Homeowners are instead required to obtain these services from a registered sewage contractor as directed on their permit.

Please see below a chart showing permit terms, costs, and service requirements:

Operation Permits are Transferrable:

Once issued for a HSTS, O&M permits (and associated fees, terms, & conditions) remain associated with the system and are transferred to the new owner upon sale of a property.  If you have recently purchased a home in Lake County with a “septic”, or HSTS, please contact our office to update our records, determine if your property has been enrolled, and if there are any pending requirements or outstanding fees.

Non-Compliance Inspections:

Non-Compliance Inspections will be performed by a representative of LCGHD if system owners do not submit the required proof of compliance with permit conditions by the expiration of their permit term.  Renewal and warning letters will notify homeowners of impending Non-Compliance inspections, however these inspections will not be individually scheduled in advance with homeowners due to the high expected volume.  These inspections will not provide any needed service to systems and are only intended to evaluate if a system is currently creating a public health nuisance.  The cost of this non-voluntary Non-Compliance inspection will be invoiced to the homeowner.

Educational Materials:

Knowing and understanding the type of Sewage Treatment System your home uses is important for the health of your family and your community.  Your onsite system, just like a centralized city sewage treatment plant, must be able to effectively treat your wastewater to remove, kill, or inactivate disease-causing organisms and chemical pollutants before they are released or distributed into the environment.  Failing systems can cause untreated sewage to pond on the ground’s surface or to contaminate groundwater drinking water sources, both of which can pose a risk of spreading various diseases in our community.  The materials below provide both general education for care of Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTSs) as well as some design-specific guidance.

If you are unsure of what type of system or components you have, you may be able to find this information from the records on file with LCGHD.  All private water well and sewage treatment system documentation available at LCGHD is public record, and can be obtained by contacting our office.  We are happy to help you interpret any available records, refer you to the registered and certified service providers for that system, and advise on proper care measures for your specific system and components.

For questions or if additional information is needed, please contact:
Kristi Pinkley, REHS

Registered Environmental Health Specialist
Phone: (440)350-2947
Cell: (440)251-0529
Email: kpinkley@lcghd.org

Grant Hochstetler, MPH, REHS

Registered Environmental Health Specialist
Phone: (440)350-2464
Email: ghochstetler@lcghd.org

• O&M Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Mandatory Operation & Maintenance Program Power Point for Homeowners & Realtors
• O&M Quick Guide
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Homeowner Fact Sheet
• NPDES Quick Tips Guide
• HSTS Troubleshooting Guide
• Protect Your Pipes
• Know Your Septic Tank
• National Homeowners Guide to Evaluating Service Contracts
• Septic Smart Dos and Don’ts
• Homeowners Guide to Maintaining Your Home Sewage Treatment System
• Homeowners Sewage Treatment Guide and Record Keeping
• Advanced Treatment Unit (ATU) Dos and Don’ts
• Signs of Septic System Failure or Malfunction
• Septic Tank Lid Safety
• Tips for Water Conservation
• Tablet Chlorination
• When Your Household Sewage Treatment System (HSTS) is Flooded
• When Your HSTS Experiences a Power Outage
• 10 Ways to be a Good Septic Homeowner
• Proper Landscaping On and Around Your Septic System
• Do Your Part. Be Septic Smart.
• Think at the Sink

In keeping in compliance with State Rules, operational permit information and maintenance requirements for each system are located below:

• Drip System
• Mound System
• Sand Filter System & Other Soil Absorption Components
• Spray Irrigation System
• Leach Trench System
• National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
• Discharging Aerobic Treatment Units Before 2007
• Advanced Treatment Unit (ATU) To Trench