Sewage Treatment Systems (STS)

Staff inspect mechanical household sewage treatment systems yearly and non-mechanical systems every five years. Water quality technicians determine system location, check for proper system maintenance and operation, and provide helpful information to system owners.  Staff also help home buyers avoid unforeseen repair or replacement costs by offering a voluntary septic system inspection service prior to the purchase of a home.

Routine Inspection Program

Hamilton County Public Health approves plans for all household sewage treatment systems located within our jurisdiction (all of Hamilton County excluding cities of Cincinnati, Norwood, and Springdale). Whether you have an existing system, need to replace a failing system, plan to add on to your home, or build a new home or business that will not be connected to sanitary sewer, Health District Environmental Health Specialists are here to help.

Once the inspection is finished and paper work is completed, a copy of the inspection report and invoice will be mailed to you. You will be asked to pay your fee within 30 days, at which time your permit will be issued if your system has been approved. For more information call (513) 946-7863. Click here to view the STS Fee Schedule.

If you are installing a new sewage treatment system (STS) or connecting to a sanitary sewer, you will need to obtain a permit to properly abandon your current system. Call (513) 946-7966 for more information.  If you are connecting to a sanitary sewer, you will also need to obtain a permit through the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). Call (513) 244-1330 for more information.

Any person is required to abandonment the STS in accordance with the Requirements of the Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-21.  An application to abandon STS must be obtained and fee paid prior to the abandonment.  The following must be verified at the site by our inspectors:

1. All contents of the STS tanks must be removed by a Registered Septage Hauler. (submit pumping record)
2. If applicable, solid materials such as filter material, mechanical devices or other STS components, shall be taken to an approved solid waste disposal facility or otherwise legally disposed of or reused in a manner that prevents a public health nuisance and contamination of ground or surface water.
3. Upon removal of their contents, all tanks or vessels shall be abandoned by one of the following methods:
   • The top shall either be completely removed or collapsed and at least one side collapsed to prevent containment of water in the abandoned tank or component. The resulting void shall be filled to the ground surface with inert and nonhazardous materials such as gravel or other coarse aggregate, or soil in an amount and manner that compensates for settling and prevents ponding of surface water;
     OR
   • The tank or component shall be completely filled with compacted inert material of sufficient strength and volume to prevent settling, collection of water, and/or collapse. All access points to the abandoned tank or component must be permanently secured or sealed.
4.  If applicable, HCPH will physically verify that all plumbing is directed to an approved treatment facility.

Knowing and understanding the type of household sewage treatment system your home uses is important to your family’s health and the health of the community. It is also important to be able to recognize signs that may be an indication that your system is failing or needs repair.

Why is it important to maintain your household sewage treatment system?

Wastewater treatment consists of a combination of processes that remove, kill, or inactivate a large portion of pollutants and disease-causing organisms in wastewater. Failing systems can cause untreated sewage to pond on the ground’s surface where it can pose a risk to children and pets and provide a breeding place for flies, mosquitoes and other disease carriers. Groundwater can also be polluted by failing systems, which can then contaminate nearby water sources (streams, ponds, rivers) and drinking wells. Other important reasons to maintain your system:

• Money – Poor maintenance is a common cause of early system failure. The minimal amount of preventive maintenance a septic system requires costs very little compared to the cost of repair and replacement.
• Economic Health of Community – Failed septic systems lower property values and contribute to the pollution of local rivers, lakes, and ponds used for commercial or recreational activities.

What is waste water?

Wastewater from a typical household includes toilet waste; used water from sinks, baths, showers, washing machines and dishwashers (gray water); and anything else that can be put down the drain or flushed down the toilet. What makes wastewater dangerous? Feces and urine from both humans and animals carry many disease-causing organisms (pathogens). When groundwater, rivers, streams, lakes or ponds are contaminated with wastewater, humans can be exposed to pathogens in lots of ways. Wastewater can also contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals known to cause a variety of environmental and health problems.

How do humans catch diseases from wastewater?

• Pathogens in wastewater can be transmitted to humans in several ways.
• Direct contact with sewage – playing, working or walking in a yard with a failed household sewage system; swimming in water (pond, lake, etc.) contaminated with sewage
• Fecal-oral route – drinking water contaminated with sewage or eating food prepared or washed in contaminated water; not washing hands after contact with sewage, water contaminated with sewage, or a surface (ball, pet toy, tool) contaminated with sewage.
• Contact with human, animal or insect carriers – eating food improperly handled by an infected person.

The Housefly Example: Flies have taste buds on their feet and always land directly on the food they eat. This could mean raw sewage, followed by your picnic lunch. Pathogens carried on the body hairs and feet of flies are then transferred to the food and consequently to you.

How can I tell if my household sewage treatment system is not working properly?

If you have a septic tank or secondary treatment device (leachfield, subsurface sandfilter, mound) – survey your property regularly. If you notice any of the following, contact a pumper or contractor registered with the Health District. Additionally, Health District Environmental Health Specialists will notify you of any problems they discover as part of a routine inspection of your system.

• Sewage backup into the home.
• Smell of sewage outside the house. If the smell is more noticeable after a lot of water has been put into the system, multiple showers or several loads of laundry, this may be an indication the secondary treatment device is failing.
• Smell accompanied by a spongy or soggy feel in the area of your yard where the system is located (near the leach field, distribution box, or septic tank). This spongy or soggy feel may be caused by water and waste being pushed to or near ground level. These areas often have greener grass and grow quicker than other parts of the yard.
• Ponding water, or a breakthrough or bleed out, is a positive indication of failure of one or more parts of the system. Any applicable discharge pipe has a black or gray discharge.

If you have a home aeration unit – know how your particular system operates. Recognize how it looks, sounds, and smells when working correctly. If you notice any of the following, contact a contractor/repairer registered with the Health District.

• Motor is not running or there are no noticeable signs of aeration occurring.
• Strong sewage odor. A properly working system may have a musty or earthy smell, but should not smell like sewage or be over-powering.
• Identify and survey where your system discharges. Effluent should be clear.

Making repairs/alterations to your septic system

If your system requires repairs or alterations to make it work properly again, you may need a permit before you can start work.

Hire a contractor to repair your septic system

All contractors who install or service household sewage treatment systems in Hamilton County must be registered and bonded with the Hamilton County General Health District. The Health District maintains a searchable database of all registered and bonded septic contractors.

When considering the purchase of a home, most buyers request a whole house inspection to ensure the structure integrity and safety of their future home. One area that is frequently overlooked and that is not included in the whole house inspection is the household sewage treatment system (septic system).

A malfunctioning or failing septic system could cost unknowing home buyers thousands of dollars to repair or replace. Hamilton County Public Health helps home buyers avoid unforeseen repair or replacement costs by offering a septic system inspection service prior to the purchase of a home. The service is voluntary and is available within the Health District’s jurisdiction (excludes city limits of Cincinnati, Springdale and Norwood).

To request an inspection, complete the application here and email hcphcustserv@hamilton-co.org. Once an inspection fee has been collected, an assigned Environmental Health Specialist will conduct a records search to determine if the system’s inspection certificate is up-to-date, as well as to identify any system complaints. For more information about the inspection process, call our Water Quality staff at (513) 946-7966.

The Environmental Health Specialist will then visit the home to determine:

• that the system is operable and provide comments on any issues noted during the inspection
• what repairs or replacements would need to take place in order to make a malfunctioning system operable
• accessibility to public sewers

The home buyer must be present and access inside the dwelling must be available. If any of the following conditions exist, the inspection will not be conducted until the necessary work and/or time has been fulfilled:

1. All access risers and distribution boxes are not at grade.
2. Brush or grass over the system exceeds 12 inches in height.
3. The septic tank or aeration system has been pumped within 30 days of the evaluation request.
4. The house has not been continuously occupied for the last 30 days. If the home is currently vacant, an evaluation can proceed after the home has been occupied for a minimum of 30 days.*
5. Snow depth exceeds two (2) inches.

A report containing inspection findings and recommendations will be mailed to the homebuyer upon completion of the inspection.

Please note: The evaluation results are rendered without complete knowledge or observation of some the individual components of the home sewage treatment system and applies only to the date and time the evaluation is made. The opinion does not grant or imply any guarantee or warranty of the future performance of the home sewage treatment system.

^{*Does not apply to stand alone aeration treatment units.}

If you need to find a contractor to help you service your Sewage Treatment System (STS) or find a septic system installer/repairer to help with a project or need someone to clean/pump your septic tank, click a link below.

PLEASE NOTE: HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DOES NOT RECOMMEND OR ENDORSE ANY ONE CONTRACTOR.  

• Registered STS Installers Listed by Certifications They Hold
• Registered STS Installers Listed by Company with Certifications Shown
• Registered STS Service Providers Listed By Certifications They Hold
• Registered STS Service Providers Listed by Company with Certifications Shown
• Registered Septage Haulers
• Household Sewage Treatment System Designers (HSTS) and Soil Site Evaluators

Hamilton County is home to some 20,000 sewage treatment systems (STS). Properties that have these STS do not connect to sanitary sewers and thus treat sewage directly on the property. As the agency charged with inspecting and monitoring wastewater treatment of STS, Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH) maintains a staff of water quality experts. Requirements set forth through Ohio State Law require HCPH to inspect these systems to ensure nuisance conditions are abated. Below are some frequently asked questions about our STS program

Q: Is there help for seniors and those on fixed incomes?

A: We are keenly aware of potential burdens on those with fixed incomes. Please contact us and we will work with you: 513-946-7966.

Q: Why are inspections every year?

A: With some 20,000 STS in Hamilton County, 20 percent of which fail annually, the threat of large amounts of untreated sewage entering the environment poses a considerable health risk. Mechanical systems require more maintenance and thus require greater inspection frequency.

Q: What options do homeowners have to connect to sanitary sewer lines?

A: HCPH encourages homeowners and neighborhoods to access sanitary sewers when possible.  This is the most efficient method of waste disposal available today.  Sewer systems are managed by the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). There is a process in place for homeowners and neighborhoods to petition for sewer service.  Details can be found here: https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/services/for-businesses/programs/water-quality/connecting-to-sewer/

Q: Why are homeowners paying for required HCPH inspections when private companies/contractors provide the same service?

A: Ohio law requires the local health department to issue a permit for home sewage treatment systems.  Property owners have the option to hire a registered service provider to monitor and service systems. For more information on this program, click here: In Lieu of HCPH Inspection Factsheet 2023

Q: Where can I review the laws governing home sewage treatment systems?

A:

• ORC 3709.09 | Board of health to establish uniform system of fees; adoption of rules
• OAC 3701-36-14 | Cost methodology
• Section 3718.06 | Fees; disposition of proceeds
• OAC 3701-29-05 | Fees and fee categories
• Hamilton County Board of Health Resolution A (2022) | Revising Sewage Terms