Chapter 3718 | Sewage Treatment Systems

Section 3718.01 | Definitions.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Alter" means to change by making substantive replacements of, additions to, or deletions in the design or materials or to change the location of an existing sewage treatment system.

(B) "Bedrock" means hard stratum that underlies unconsolidated surface materials or soil.

(C) "Board of health" means the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health in any city as authorized by section 3709.05 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Domestic septage" means the liquid or solid material removed from a sewage treatment system, portable toilet, or type III marine sanitation device as defined in 33 C.F.R. 159.3. "Domestic septage" does not include grease removed from a grease trap.

(E) "Gray water recycling systems" means systems that treat and reuse wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers, and laundry sinks that does not contain food wastes or bodily wastes.

(F) "Household sewage treatment system" means any sewage treatment system, or part of such a system, that receives sewage from a single-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling.

(G) "Infiltrative surface" means the point or area of application of treated or partially treated sewage to the soil or sand fill for purposes of treatment, dispersal, or both.

(H) "Inspection" means the on-site evaluation or analysis of the design, installation, and operation of a sewage treatment system.

(I) "Installer" means any person who engages in the business of installing or altering or who, as an employee of another, installs or alters any sewage treatment system.

(J) "Limiting condition" means a restrictive soil layer, bedrock, a water table, or ground water that limits or precludes the treatment or dispersal of sewage in the soil of a property where a household sewage treatment system is located.

(K) "Manufacturer" means any person that manufactures sewage treatment systems or components of systems.

(L) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any state, any political subdivision of a state, and any department, division, board, commission, agency, or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision.

(M) "Sanitary sewerage system" means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, and all other constructions, devices, appurtenances, and facilities that convey sewage to a central sewage treatment plant and that are required to obtain a permit under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.

(N) "Septage hauler" means any person who engages in the collection, transportation, disposal, and land application of domestic septage.

(O) "Service provider" means any person who services, but does not install or alter, sewage treatment systems.

(P) "Sewage" means liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution that originates from humans and human activities. "Sewage" includes liquids containing household chemicals in solution commonly discharged from a residence or from commercial, institutional, or other similar facilities.

(Q) "Sewage treatment system" means a household sewage treatment system, a small flow on-site sewage treatment system, or both, as applicable.

(R) "Small flow on-site sewage treatment system" means a system, other than a household sewage treatment system, that treats not more than one thousand gallons of sewage per day and that does not require a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit issued under section 6111.03 of the Revised Code or an injection well drilling or operating permit issued under section 6111.043 of the Revised Code.

(S) "Soil" means the naturally occurring pedogenically developed and undeveloped regolith overlying bedrock.

(T) "Vertical separation distance" means the distance of the infiltrative surface of the distribution system of a soil absorption system, or component thereof, to a limiting condition in the soil.

(U) "Water table" means the surface of the saturated zone below which all interconnected voids are filled with water and at which the pressure is atmospheric.

Section 3718.011 | Conditions under which sewage treatment system causes a public health nuisance.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) For purposes of this chapter, a sewage treatment system is causing a public health nuisance if any of the following situations occurs and, after notice by a board of health to the applicable property owner, timely repairs are not made to that system to eliminate the situation:

(1) The sewage treatment system is not operating properly due to a missing component, incorrect settings, or a mechanical or electrical failure.

(2) There is a blockage in a known sewage treatment system component or pipe that causes a backup of sewage or effluent affecting the treatment process or inhibiting proper plumbing drainage.

(3) An inspection conducted by, or under the supervision of, the environmental protection agency or an environmental health specialist registered under Chapter 3776. of the Revised Code documents that there is ponding of liquid or bleeding of liquid onto the surface of the ground or into surface water and the liquid has a distinct sewage odor, a black or gray coloration, or the presence of organic matter and any of the following:

(a) The presence of sewage effluent identified through a dye test;

(b) The presence of fecal coliform at a level that is equal to or greater than five thousand colonies per one hundred milliliters of liquid as determined in two or more samples of the liquid when five or fewer samples are collected or in more than twenty per cent of the samples when more than five samples of the liquid are collected;

(c) Water samples that exceed one thousand thirty e. coli counts per one hundred milliliters in two or more samples when five or fewer samples are collected or in more than twenty per cent of the samples when more than five samples are collected.

(4) With respect to a discharging system for which an NPDES permit has been issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it, the system routinely exceeds the effluent discharge limitations specified in the permit.

(B) With respect to divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section, a property owner may request a test to be conducted by a board of health to verify that the sewage treatment system is causing a public health nuisance. The property owner is responsible for the costs of the test.

Last updated October 16, 2023 at 3:56 PM

Section 3718.012 | Older sewage treatment systems.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

A sewage treatment system that was in operation prior to the effective date of this section shall not be required to be replaced with a new sewage treatment system under this chapter or rules adopted under it and shall be deemed approved if the system does not cause a public health nuisance or, if the system is causing a public health nuisance as provided in section 3718.011 of the Revised Code, repairs are made to the system that eliminate the public health nuisance as determined by the applicable board of health.

Section 3718.02 | Director of health to adopt administrative rules; board of health may adopt more stringent rules.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The director of health, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt, and subsequently may amend and rescind, rules of general application throughout the state to administer this chapter. Rules adopted under division (A) of this section shall do at least all of the following:

(1) Require that the appropriate board of health approve or disapprove the installation, operation, and alteration of a sewage treatment system if it is not connected to a sanitary sewerage system;

(2) Require a board of health, or other person as established by rule, to conduct a site evaluation for any proposed installation of a sewage treatment system;

(3) Prescribe standards for the siting, design, installation, operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of sewage treatment systems that may be used in this state and for the progressive or incremental alteration or repair of an existing sewage treatment system or the progressive or incremental installation of a new system to replace an existing sewage treatment system. The rules shall be adopted so as to establish a preference for the repair of an existing sewage treatment system, when technically and economically feasible, rather than its replacement with a new system. The standards shall include at a minimum all of the following:

(a) Soil absorption specifications and vertical separation distances.

(i) Soil absorption specifications established in rules shall include standards regarding the sizing of sewage treatment systems in use in the state.

(ii) In establishing soil absorption specifications and vertical separation distances, the rules shall identify those soil conditions that present a low or moderate risk of inadequate treatment or dispersal of sewage from sewage treatment systems. For low and moderate risk conditions, the required vertical separation distance shall not exceed eighteen inches except as authorized pursuant to rules adopted under divisions (A)(3)(a)(iii) and (iv) of this section.

In addition, the rules shall identify those soil conditions that present a high risk of inadequate treatment or dispersal of sewage. For such high risk conditions, the vertical separation distance shall be set at a depth from twenty-four to thirty-six inches and shall not be lowered unless a reduction of vertical separation is granted in accordance with rules adopted under division (A)(3)(a)(iii) of this section.

(iii) The rules shall establish options to be utilized by a board of health when approving the reductions of or compliance with vertical separation distances that are established in rules adopted under division (A)(3)(a)(ii) of this section. The options for a board of health in providing such approval shall include, but not be limited to: the use where deemed appropriate for a particular site of subsurface interceptor drains, perimeter drains, or engineered drainage; pretreatment of sewage; or soil elevation.

(iv) The rules shall provide that a board of health may petition the director to increase the vertical separation distances required for sewage treatment systems in the applicable health district or a portion of the district when conditions present a high risk of inadequate treatment or dispersal of sewage. The rules also shall provide that the director may approve such a request upon a demonstration by the board of health that unusual or unique local conditions relating to terrain, bedrock, water table, soil fragments, or soil textures require the establishment of greater vertical separation distances within the jurisdiction of the board of health or a portion thereof. If, under the rules, the director of health approves a greater vertical separation distance, a board of health still may approve a reduction of that vertical separation distance for an individual sewage treatment system pursuant to rules adopted under division (A)(3)(a)(iii) of this section. Further, if, under the rules, the director approves a greater vertical separation distance, a person who is denied permission by a board of health to install or replace a sewage treatment system as a result of the director's approval may request a hearing in accordance with section 3718.11 of the Revised Code.

(b) Specifications for the quality of treated sewage effluent from household sewage treatment systems that is applied to soil on the property where a household sewage treatment system is located. The specifications established in the rules for the quality of effluent from discharging systems shall comply with discharge requirements imposed by the national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program established under section 6111.03 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it.

(c) Requirements for the reasonable maintenance of a system according to maintenance requirements approved by the director of health as recommended by the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee or according to accepted standards and practices established in rules, as applicable. The requirements may include standards for service contracts or other arrangements that assure regular maintenance and upkeep of the system. In determining the reasonableness of a maintenance requirement, the director shall consider a manufacturer's maintenance requirements as well as all other maintenance alternatives.

(4) Prescribe procedures for notification to boards of health of the approval of a sewage treatment system or components of a system by the director of health under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code;

(5) Prescribe criteria and procedures under which boards of health shall issue installation permits, operation permits, and alteration permits for sewage treatment systems. The rules shall require as a condition of an installation permit that the installer of a system must warrant that the system was installed in accordance with all applicable rules and design requirements. In addition, the rules shall require a board of health, not later than sixty days after the issuance of an installation, operation, or alteration permit, to notify the director that the permit was issued. The rules shall require the notification to be in a format prescribed by the director and to include information related to the issuance of the permit. With the assistance of the department of health, a board of health, to the extent practicable, shall computerize the process of the issuance of permits for sewage treatment systems.

(6) Require a board of health to inspect a sewage treatment system not later than twelve months after its installation to ensure that the system is operating properly. The rules shall require a board of health, not later than sixty days after the inspection, to certify to the director on a form provided by the director that the inspection was performed.

(7) Require each board of health to develop a program for the administration of maintenance requirements established in rules adopted under division (A)(3)(c) of this section. The rules shall include requirements and procedures under which a person may demonstrate the required maintenance of a system in lieu of having an inspection conducted when an inspection otherwise is required. The rules shall require a board of health to provide written notice to a person that is demonstrating maintenance of a system in lieu of an inspection that if proof of the required maintenance of the system is not provided as required by rules, the system is subject to inspection by the board and the reasonable cost of the inspection must be paid by the person. The rules shall authorize a board of health to inspect any sewage treatment system if there is a good-faith complaint regarding the system, there is probable cause for the inspection, or proof of the required maintenance of the system has not been provided as required by rules. In addition, the rules shall authorize a board of health to inspect a sewage treatment system without prior notice in any instance in which the board has probable cause to believe that the system is endangering or threatening to endanger public health. The rules shall require that the reasonable costs for sewage effluent testing or evaluation be paid by the owner of a sewage treatment system that is being investigated. Further, the rules shall establish a methodology for determining the reasonable costs of an inspection in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code. The rules shall allow, but shall not require, a board of health to continue an inspection program that was established by the board prior to the effective date of the rules, provided that the program authorizes a person to demonstrate the required maintenance of a system in lieu of an inspection.

(8) Require a board of health to register installers, service providers, and septage haulers that perform work within the health district; prescribe criteria and procedures for the registration; and prescribe criteria for a demonstration of competency as a part of the registration. The rules shall establish uniform statewide bonding requirements or other financial security requirements for installers, service providers, and septage haulers as a condition of registration within any health district. The rules shall establish a methodology by which the required amount of a bond or other security may be calculated for each installer, service provider, and septage hauler. The methodology, at a minimum, shall consider the number of systems installed or serviced and the type of system installed or serviced by an installer, service provider, or septage hauler on an annual basis. The rules shall provide that no board of health shall require an additional or different bond or security requirement as a condition of registration beyond the bonding and security requirements established in the rules adopted under division (A)(8) of this section.

The rules shall establish a cost methodology for determining the fee for the registration of an installer, service provider, or septage hauler in any health district.

(9) Prescribe requirements for the collection, transportation, disposal, and land application of domestic septage in this state from a sewage treatment system;

(10) Require boards of health to maintain records that are determined necessary to ascertain compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted under it;

(11) Require the manufacturer of a sewage treatment system that is authorized for use in this state in rules adopted under this section or that is approved for use in this state under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code to provide instructions for the operation and maintenance of the system. The rules shall provide that a board of health may require a copy of a manufacturer's instructions for the operation and maintenance of a system to be filed with the board prior to the installation and use of the system in the health district in which the board has jurisdiction. In addition, the rules shall require a board of health and a manufacturer to provide a copy of the operation and maintenance instructions, if available, when a board of health or a manufacturer receives a written request for instructions.

(12) Prescribe criteria for the provision of written evidence of compliance with rules pertaining to sewage treatment for purposes of sections 711.05 and 711.10 of the Revised Code;

(13) Pursuant to divisions (A)(1) and (3) of this section, prescribe standards for the siting, design, installation, operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of small flow on-site sewage treatment systems that may be used in this state;

(14) Prescribe minimum criteria and procedures under which boards of health may establish household sewage treatment district management programs for the purpose of providing a responsive approach toward preventing or solving sewage treatment problems resulting from household sewage treatment systems within the districts established under the program. For purposes of division (A)(14) of this section, a board of health may enter into a contract with any entity to administer a household sewage treatment district management program.

(15) Prescribe standards for the use of subsurface interceptor drains, perimeter drains, and engineered drainage to remove or divert any subsurface water from an area to be used for soil absorption of sewage in the soil of a sewage treatment system;

(16) Prescribe standards for the inspection of septage hauling truck tanks by boards of health, including, but not limited to, tank seal safety specifications;

(17) Establish standards and testing methods to ensure that all septic tanks, other disposal component tanks, dosing tanks, pump vaults, household sewage treatment disposal system holding tanks and privy vaults, or other applicable sewage disposal system components manufactured after September 17, 2010, and used in this state are watertight and structurally sound;

(18) Require a board of health to give notice and an opportunity for a hearing, pursuant to section 3718.11 of the Revised Code, to an affected property owner regarding any of the following:

(a) The denial of an installation, operation, or alteration permit for a sewage treatment system;

(b) The imposition of a condition on the installation of a sewage treatment system;

(c) The required replacement of a sewage treatment system;

(d) Any other final order or decision of a board of health that is made under this chapter concerning which a property owner is claiming to be aggrieved or adversely affected.

The rules also shall establish procedures for giving such notice and for conducting the hearing required in rules adopted under division (A)(18) of this section.

(19) Prescribe standards for the regulation of gray water recycling systems;

(20) Prohibit a sewage treatment system from causing a public health nuisance;

(21) Define economic impact for purposes of division (B) of this section and section 3718.022 of the Revised Code.

The director may adopt other rules under division (A) of this section that the director determines are necessary to implement this chapter and to protect the public health and welfare.

At least sixty days prior to adopting a rule under division (A) of this section, the director shall provide boards of health and any other interested parties an opportunity to comment on the rule.

(B)(1) In accordance with section 3709.20 or 3709.21 of the Revised Code, as applicable, and subject to review by and approval of the director under division (C) of section 3718.05 of the Revised Code, a board of health may adopt rules necessary for the public health providing for more stringent standards than those established in rules adopted by the director under division (A) of this section. In proposing or adopting the rules, a board of health shall consider and document the economic impact of the rules on property owners within the applicable health district.

(2) A board that intends to adopt rules shall notify the department of health of the proposed rules and submit a copy of the proposed rules and the documentation of the economic impact of the rules at least ninety days prior to the proposed date of adoption. The director shall approve or disapprove any such proposed rule within ninety days after receiving a copy of the proposed rule from the board of health.

(3) In reviewing a proposed rule, the director shall approve the rule if all of the following apply:

(a) The proposed rule is not in conflict with this chapter or rules adopted under it.

(b) The proposed rule is authorized by division (B) of this section.

(c) The proposed rule is no less stringent than rules adopted by the director.

(d) Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter or rules adopted under it, the proposed rule does not require design changes to a sewage treatment system, or component thereof, that differ from a design authorized in rules adopted under division (A) of this section, including rules adopted under division (A)(1) or (A)(3)(a)(iii) or (iv) of this section, or approved by the director under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code.

(e) The proposed rule does not require operation or maintenance procedures for a sewage treatment system that conflict with operation or maintenance procedures authorized in rules adopted under division (A) of this section, including rules adopted under division (A)(1) or (A)(3)(a)(iii) or (iv) of this section, or approved by the director under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code.

(4) If a board of health fails to submit a proposed rule to the director or fails to demonstrate that the board has considered the economic impact of the proposed rule, the rule shall have no force or effect and is not enforceable.

Section 3718.021 | Board of health may regulate small flow on-site systems; OEPA regulation in default.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) A board of health may regulate the siting, design, installation, operation, monitoring, maintenance, and abandonment of small flow on-site sewage treatment systems in accordance with rules adopted by the director of health under division (A)(13) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code. If a board of health chooses to regulate small flow on-site sewage treatment systems, the board first shall send written notification to the director of health and the director of environmental protection.

(B) If a board of health chooses to regulate small flow on-site sewage treatment systems under division (A) of this section and later determines that it no longer wants to regulate those systems, the board shall notify the director of health and the director of environmental protection. Upon the receipt of the notification by the director of environmental protection, the board of health shall cease regulating small flow on-site sewage treatment systems, and the environmental protection agency shall regulate those systems.

(C) If after a survey conducted under section 3718.07 of the Revised Code the director of health finds that a board of health that has chosen to regulate small flow on-site sewage treatment systems is not complying with the rules adopted under division (A)(13) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, the director shall notify the director of environmental protection and the board of health. Upon receipt of the notification, the board shall cease regulating small flow on-site sewage treatment systems, and the environmental protection agency shall regulate those systems.

Section 3718.022 | Consideration of economic impact in adopting rules.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, in adopting rules under division (A) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, the director of health shall consider the economic impact of the rules on property owners, the state of available technology, and the nature and economics of the available alternatives.

Section 3718.023 | Approval of installation, operation or alteration of sewage treatment systems.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

(A) In accordance with rules adopted under division (A) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code, a board of health shall approve or deny the installation, operation, or alteration of sewage treatment systems the use of which has been authorized in those rules or that have been approved for use in this state by the director of health under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. The board shall approve an installation, operation, or alteration only in the health district in which the board has jurisdiction. A board shall approve the installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system through the issuance of a permit in accordance with rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code. A board shall not approve the installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system if the installation, operation, or alteration is not appropriate for the site at which the use of the system is or is proposed to be located. In determining whether to approve or disapprove the installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system, including the progressive or incremental installation or alteration of a system, a board shall consider the economic impact on the property owner, the state of available technology, and the nature and economics of various alternatives. A board shall provide written documentation of such economic impact if requested by the property owner. In addition, the board shall ensure that a system, when installed and maintained properly, will not create a public health nuisance and shall require a system to comply with the requirements established in division (B) of this section and other applicable requirements of this chapter.

The board shall permit a property owner to select a sewage treatment system for use by the property owner from those systems that have been approved for use in the state, from the least expensive system to the most expensive system, and a property owner may select any such system regardless of its cost, provided that the system selected will comply with all applicable requirements and standards established under this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(B) A board of health shall ensure that the design and installation of a soil absorption system prevents public health nuisances. In addition, a board of health shall ensure that a sewage treatment system that is installed after the effective date of this section shall not discharge into a ditch, stream, pond, lake, natural or artificial waterway, drain tile, or other surface water or onto the surface of the ground unless authorized by a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it. In addition, a board shall ensure that a sewage treatment system shall not discharge into an abandoned well, a drainage well, a dry well, a cesspool, a sinkhole, or another connection to ground water. If a household sewage treatment system serving a two- or three-family dwelling or a small flow on-site sewage treatment system is classified as a class V injection well, a board of health shall ensure that the system complies with rules adopted under section 6111.043 of the Revised Code and with Chapter 3745-34 of the Administrative Code.

(C) For purposes of the approval or denial of the installation, operation, or alteration of a sewage treatment system under this section, "economic impact" means all of the following, as applicable:

(1) The cost to the property owner for the installation of the proposed sewage treatment system, including the cost of progressive or incremental installation of the system;

(2) The cost of an alternative system, including the cost of progressive or incremental installation of the system, that, when installed and maintained properly, will not create a public health nuisance compared to the proposed sewage treatment system;

(3) The costs of repairing the sewage treatment system, including the cost of progressive or incremental repairs, as opposed to replacing the system with a new system.

(D) An application for an installation permit that is accepted by a board of health prior to January 1, 2012, shall be valid for three years from the date of the submission of the complete application and the accompanying application fee.

(E) An installation permit issued by a board of health prior to January 1, 2012, shall be valid until January 1, 2013, unless extended by a board of health for not more than an additional six months.

Section 3718.024 | Training in best management practices.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

The director of health in cooperation with a board of health shall assess the familiarity of the board's staff with best management practices in the use of sewage treatment systems, as necessary, and conduct appropriate training to educate the board's staff in those best management practices and in the use of any new sewage treatment system technology that is recommended for use by the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee created in section 3718.03 of the Revised Code.

Section 3718.025 | National pollutant discharge elimination system permits.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

The environmental protection agency shall not require a board of health to enter into a memorandum of understanding or any other agreement with the agency regarding the issuance of national pollutant discharge elimination system permits for off-lot household sewage treatment systems. Rather, a representative of a board of health may meet with a person who intends to install such a system to determine the feasibility of the system and refer the person to the agency to secure a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit for the system if needed. The environmental protection agency shall make revisions to any applicable general national pollutant discharge elimination system permits, issued pursuant to the federal Water Pollution Control Act as defined in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code, so that such a memorandum of understanding is not required. A board of health voluntarily may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the environmental protection agency to implement a general national pollutant discharge elimination system permit. The agency shall work with boards of health to facilitate securing national pollutant discharge elimination system permits on behalf of property owners in counties without a memorandum of understanding.

Section 3718.03 | Sewage treatment system technical advisory committee.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee consisting of the director of health or the director's designee and thirteen members who are knowledgeable about sewage treatment systems and technologies. The director or the director's designee shall serve as committee secretary and may vote on actions taken by the committee. Of the thirteen members, five shall be appointed by the governor, four shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and four shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(1) Of the members appointed by the governor, one shall represent academia and shall be active in teaching or research in the area of on-site wastewater treatment, one shall be a representative of the public who is not employed by the state or any of its political subdivisions and who does not have a pecuniary interest in sewage treatment systems, one shall be a registered professional engineer employed by the environmental protection agency, one shall be selected from among soil scientists in the division of soil and water conservation in the department of agriculture, and one shall be a representative of a statewide organization representing townships.

(2) Of the members appointed by the president of the senate, one shall be a health commissioner who is a member of and recommended by the association of Ohio health commissioners, one shall represent the interests of manufacturers of sewage treatment systems, one shall represent installers and service providers, and one shall be a person with demonstrated experience in the design of sewage treatment systems.

(3) Of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one shall be a health commissioner who is a member of and recommended by the association of Ohio health commissioners, one shall represent the interests of manufacturers of sewage treatment systems, one shall be an environmental health specialist who is registered under Chapter 3776. of the Revised Code and who is a member of the Ohio environmental health association, and one shall be a registered professional engineer with experience in sewage treatment systems.

(B) Terms of members appointed to the committee shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall serve from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed.

Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue to serve after the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor is appointed or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The applicable appointing authority may remove a member from the committee for failure to attend two consecutive meetings without showing good cause for the absences.

(C) The technical advisory committee annually shall select from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. The secretary shall keep a record of its proceedings. A majority vote of the members of the full committee is necessary to take action on any matter. The committee may adopt bylaws governing its operation, including bylaws that establish the frequency of meetings.

(D) Serving as a member of the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation for attending committee meetings.

(E) A member of the committee shall not have a conflict of interest with the position. For the purposes of this division, "conflict of interest" means the taking of any action that violates any provision of Chapter 102. or 2921. of the Revised Code.

(F) The sewage treatment system technical advisory committee shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop with the department of health standards, guidelines, and protocols for approving or disapproving a sewage treatment system or components of a system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. Any guideline requiring the submission of scientific information or testing data shall specify, in writing, the protocol and format to be used in submitting the information or data.

(2) Develop with the department an application form to be submitted to the director by an applicant for approval or disapproval of a sewage treatment system or components of a system and specify the information that must be included with an application form;

(3) Make recommendations to the director regarding the approval or disapproval of an application sent to the director under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code requesting approval of a sewage treatment system or components of a system;

(4) Pursue and recruit in an active manner the research, development, introduction, and timely approval of innovative and cost-effective sewage treatment systems and components of a system for use in this state, which shall include conducting pilot projects to assess the effectiveness of a system or components of a system.

(G) The chairperson of the committee shall prepare and submit an annual report concerning the activities of the committee to the general assembly not later than ninety days after the end of the calendar year. The report shall discuss the number of applications submitted under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code for the approval of a new sewage treatment system or a component of a system, the number of such systems and components that were approved, any information that the committee considers beneficial to the general assembly, and any other information that the chairperson determines is beneficial to the general assembly. If other members of the committee determine that certain information should be included in the report, they shall submit the information to the chairperson not later than thirty days after the end of the calendar year.

(H) The department shall provide meeting space for the committee. The committee shall be assisted in its duties by the staff of the department.

(I) Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not apply to the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee.

Last updated October 16, 2023 at 3:59 PM

Section 3718.04 | Application for approval of nonconforming system - standards - notice to applicant.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

(A) A manufacturer seeking approval for the installation and use of a sewage treatment system or a component of a system in this state that differs in design or function from systems or components of systems the use of which is authorized in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code shall request an application form from the department of health. The applicant shall complete the form and include with it all of the information that is required by the department and the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee. The applicant shall submit a completed application and all required information to the director of health.

(B) Upon receipt of an application, the director shall examine the application and all accompanying information to determine if the application is complete. If the director determines that the application is not complete, the director shall notify the applicant not later than sixty days after submission of the application that the application is not complete, provide a description of the information that is missing from the application, and return the application and all accompanying information to the applicant. The applicant may resubmit the application to the director if the application includes the information that was identified by the director. Not later than thirty days after receipt of a complete application, the director shall notify the committee of the complete application and send a copy of the complete application and all accompanying information to the committee together with a request that the committee recommend that the director approve or disapprove the system.

Not later than ninety days after receipt of a complete application, the committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of the application and submit its recommendation in writing to the director. The director shall approve or disapprove the application not later than sixty days after the committee submits its recommendation to the director or, if the committee fails to recommend approval or disapproval within the required time, not later than one hundred twenty days after the submission of a complete application. If the director fails to approve or disapprove an application within the required time, the application shall be deemed approved.

(C) In approving or disapproving an application, the director shall use the standards, guidelines, and protocols that the committee developed with the department for that purpose. The director shall not approve an application that fails to comply with those standards, guidelines, and protocols. If the committee recommends approval or disapproval of an application, the director shall consider the committee's recommendation before approving or disapproving the application. If the committee fails to provide advice or if the committee fails to recommend approval or disapproval of the application within the required time, the director may approve or disapprove the application without considering the advice of the committee. The director shall establish and include any appropriate terms and conditions with the approval of a sewage treatment system or component of a system for use in this state. For purposes of establishing soil absorption specifications for a sewage treatment system, the terms and conditions shall include standards regarding the sizing of the system.

(D) If the director approves an application under this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing. The director also shall notify boards of health in accordance with the procedures established in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code that the sewage treatment system or component of a system that is the subject of the application is approved for statewide use. If the director disapproves an application under this section, the director shall notify the applicant in writing and provide a brief explanation for the disapproval.

(E) Decisions of the director approving or disapproving applications under this section may be appealed in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) No approval shall be required under this section with respect to a sewage treatment system or component of a system that has been approved by the director prior to the effective date of this amendment unless the manufacturer of the system or component changes the design or seeks modifications to any terms and conditions of the prior approval.

(G) The director may revoke the approval of a sewage treatment system or component of a system if the director finds, based on substantial evidence, that the system or component fails to comply with applicable standards for the system or component. The revocation of an approval under this division may be appealed in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 3718.041 | Requests for statements of approval for installers or manufacturers.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

An installer or manufacturer of a sewage treatment system or component of a system the use of which has been authorized in rules adopted under section 3718.02 of the Revised Code may request from the director of health a written statement acknowledging that the system or component of a system is approved for use in this state and that the approval is equivalent in all respects to the approval of a system or component of a system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code. The director may approve or deny such a request as the director determines appropriate.

Section 3718.05 | Administration and enforcement duties of director of health.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

The director of health shall do all of the following:

(A) Administer and enforce this chapter and the rules adopted under it;

(B) Examine records of boards of health, in accordance with rules adopted by the director, that are determined necessary to ascertain compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it;

(C) Review and approve or disapprove rules proposed by boards of health under division (B) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code. The director shall not disapprove a proposed rule unless the director determines that the proposed rule conflicts with this chapter or rules adopted under division (A) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code or fails to promote public health or environmental protection. If the director disapproves a proposed rule, the director shall provide a written explanation of the director's disapproval to the board of health that proposed the rule.

(D) Survey boards of health as required by section 3718.07 of the Revised Code;

(E) Develop with the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee standards, guidelines, and protocols for use by the director in approving or disapproving a sewage treatment system under section 3718.04 of the Revised Code and an application form for use by applicants for that approval, including identification of the information that must be included with the form;

(F) Provide instructions on the operation and maintenance of a sewage treatment system. The director shall provide the operation and maintenance instructions on the department of health's web site. In addition, the director shall provide a copy of the operation and maintenance instructions when the director receives a written request for the instructions.

(G) Develop educational programs, in conjunction with boards of health, to educate owners of sewage treatment systems regarding the proper operation and maintenance of those systems.

Section 3718.06 | Fees; disposition of proceeds.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) A board of health shall establish fees in accordance with section 3709.09 of the Revised Code for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter and rules adopted under it, including fees for installation permits, operation permits, and alteration permits issued by the board. All fees so established and collected by the board shall be deposited in a special fund of the district to be used exclusively by the board in carrying out those duties.

(B) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the director of health may establish by rule a fee to be collected from applicants for installation permits and alteration permits issued under rules adopted under this chapter. The director of health shall use not more than ninety per cent of the proceeds from that fee for administering and enforcing this chapter and the rules adopted under it by the director. The director shall use not less than ten per cent of the proceeds from that fee to establish a program in cooperation with boards of health to fund installation and evaluation of sewage treatment system new technology pilot projects through grants or other agreements. In the selection of pilot projects, the director shall consult with the sewage treatment system technical advisory committee. A board of health shall collect and transmit the fee to the director pursuant to section 3709.092 of the Revised Code.

Section 3718.07 | Survey to determine compliance - approved district list.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

The director of health shall survey each city and general health district at least once every three years to determine whether there is substantial compliance with the requirements of this chapter pertaining to health districts and the applicable rules adopted by the director under this chapter. Upon determining that there is substantial compliance, the director shall place the district on an approved list. The director may resurvey an approved district if it is determined by the director to be necessary and may remove from the list a district that is found not to be substantially complying with the requirements of this chapter pertaining to health districts and the applicable rules.

If the director determines that a district is not eligible to be placed on the approved list or to continue on the list after a resurvey, the director shall certify that determination to the board of health, and the director shall carry out the duties of the unapproved health district under this chapter and the applicable rules adopted under it within the district or shall contract with an approved health district to conduct those duties until the unapproved district is placed on or returned to the approved list. The director or the contracting district shall have within the unapproved district the authority to exercise powers and perform duties granted to or imposed on the board under this chapter and the applicable rules adopted under it.

Until the unapproved district is placed on or returned to the approved list, the director or the contracting district shall collect all fees payable to the board of health under this chapter and all such fees previously paid to the unapproved district that have not been expended or encumbered. The director shall deposit those fees in the state treasury to the credit of a special fund, which is hereby created, to be used by the director for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the unapproved health district under this chapter and the applicable rules adopted under it. A contracting district shall deposit those fees to the credit of its fund created under section 3718.06 of the Revised Code to be used by the district for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the unapproved district under this chapter and the applicable rules adopted under it. The director or contracting district shall repay to the unapproved district any balance remaining in the applicable fund from all sources when the unapproved district is placed on or returned to the approved list by the director.

If a health district is removed from the approved list under this section and the board of health of the district is regulating small flow on-site sewage treatment systems in the district under section 3718.021 of the Revised Code, the director of environmental protection shall regulate those systems in that district in accordance with division (C) of that section.

Section 3718.08 | Violation of chapter, rules or conditions prohibited.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 231 - 125th General Assembly

No person shall violate this chapter, any rule adopted or order issued under it, or any condition of a registration or permit issued under rules adopted under it.

Section 3718.09 | Enforcement orders - emergency orders.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) A board of health may issue, modify, suspend, or revoke enforcement orders to a registration or permit holder or other person directing the holder or person to abate a violation of this chapter, any rule adopted or order issued under it, or a condition of a registration or permit issued under it within a specified, reasonable time. If an order issued under this division is neglected or disregarded, the applicable board of health may proceed in accordance with section 3707.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) The health commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative, without prior notice or hearing and in accordance with rules adopted by the director of health, may issue an emergency order requiring any action necessary to meet a public health emergency or to prevent or abate an imminent and substantial threat to surface water or ground water regarding domestic septage management or regarding a sewage treatment system that is being operated in a manner that does not comply with this chapter or rules adopted under it. A person to whom such an emergency order is issued immediately shall comply with the order. A person so ordered may apply to the issuer of the order for a hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than twenty days after the issuer's receipt of the application for a hearing.

Section 3718.10 | Prosecution or injunction for violation - civil penalty.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 231 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The prosecuting attorney of the county or the city director of law, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation where a violation has occurred or is occurring, upon complaint of the director of health or a board of health, shall prosecute to termination or bring an action for injunction or other appropriate relief against any person who is violating or has violated this chapter, any rule adopted or order issued under it, or any condition of a registration or permit issued under rules adopted under it. The court of common pleas or the municipal or county court in which an action for injunction is filed has jurisdiction to grant such relief upon a showing that the respondent named in the complaint is or was in violation of the chapter or rules, orders, or conditions.

Upon finding that a person intentionally has violated this chapter, a rule adopted or order issued under it, or any condition of a registration or permit issued under rules adopted under it, the court may assess a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for each day of violation against the person. Seventy-five per cent of any penalties assessed by the court under this division shall be paid to the health district whose board of health brought the complaint, or to the state treasury to the credit of the general operations fund created in section 3701.83 of the Revised Code if the director of health is carrying out the duties of an unapproved health district in which the violation occurred in accordance with section 3718.07 of the Revised Code, and shall be used for the purposes of this chapter and the rules adopted under it. Twenty-five per cent of any penalties assessed by the court under this division shall be paid to the prosecuting attorney of the county or city director of law, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation that prosecuted or brought the action under this division to pay the expenses incurred in bringing the action.

(B) The remedies provided in this chapter are in addition to any other remedies available under law.

Section 3718.11 | Request for hearing.

• Effective: September 17, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 110 - 128th General Assembly

(A) A property owner may request a hearing with the board of health for any reason described in division (A)(18) of section 3718.02 of the Revised Code. A property owner may appeal the results of the hearing to either of the following:

(1) The court of common pleas of the county in which the property owner's land is located;

(2) A sewage treatment system appeals board that is established in accordance with this section.

(B) A property owner that wishes to appeal to a sewage treatment system appeals board shall file the appeal with the board of health within whose jurisdiction the property owner's land is located. Upon receipt of a filing, the board of health shall send the filing of the appeal to the chairperson of the sewage treatment system appeals board for the county in which the board of health has jurisdiction.

(C)(1) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a sewage treatment system appeals board shall be appointed for each county as follows:

(a) One member shall be appointed by the health commissioner of the general health district having jurisdiction in the county.

(b) One member shall be appointed by the judge of the probate court of the county having the longest continuous service as a judge of the probate court.

(c) One member shall be appointed by the director of health.

(2) Terms of appointment to a sewage treatment system appeals board shall be for two years. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term.

(3) The person appointed by the judge of the probate court shall serve as chairperson of the board. A majority vote of the members of the board is necessary to take action on any matter. The chairperson of the board shall designate the time and location for a hearing before the board. Members of the board shall serve without compensation.

(4) A board of health shall send an appeal that has been filed with the board of health under division (B) of this section to the sewage treatment system appeals board immediately after the appeal has been filed. Not later than forty-five days after a hearing before a sewage treatment system appeals board, the board shall issue a written decision concerning an appeal before the board.

(5) The judge of the probate court who made an appointment to the board under this section shall establish due process procedures to be used by the applicable sewage treatment system appeals board appointed under this section for the purpose of hearing appeals regarding orders and decisions of a board of health. All appeals before the applicable sewage treatment system appeals board shall be conducted in accordance with those procedures. The procedures may include filing fees applicable to appeals conducted by the sewage treatment system appeals board.

(D) An appeal before a sewage treatment system appeals board is final, and no further appeal may be taken.

Section 3718.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 231 - 125th General Assembly

Whoever purposely violates section 3718.08 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars. Each day of violation is a separate offense. All money collected from fines under this section shall be used to administer and enforce this chapter and rules adopted under it and shall be deposited as follows:

(A) If the violation occurred within a health district that is approved under section 3718.07 of the Revised Code, the money shall be deposited to the credit of the district's special fund created under section 3718.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) If the violation occurred within a health district that is not approved under section 3718.07 of the Revised Code and a contracting district is carrying out the duties of the unapproved health district in accordance with that section, the money shall be deposited to the credit of the contracting district's special fund created under section 3718.06 of the Revised Code.

(C) If the violation occurred within an unapproved health district and the director of health is carrying out the duties of the unapproved health district in accordance with section 3718.07 of the Revised Code, the money shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general operations fund created in section 3701.83 of the Revised Code.