Below are the Action Plan, Draft Resolutions, and Draft Budgets  for the HSTS (Household Sewage Treatment System) Operation & Maintenance Program. These resolutions were "tabled" at May 8th, 2008 Board of Health Meeting.

Operation & Maintenance Program Plan - Tabled

Resolution 2008-26B Draft - Tabled

Resolution 2008-27B Draft - Tabled

For more information see the Questions & Answers.

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      Although the above resolutions were tabled at the May Board of Health meeting, the House to House program is still in effect. The House to House program applies to mechanical systems only as outlined below.

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     Why do I pay $40 per year to operate a mechanical sewage treatment system?  (note: The fee was increased to $40 in March 2007 by Fairfield Department of Health Resolution 2007-03; current revisions may change this fee.)
    
(read the final text of Resolution 2007-03 here) Adobe Acrobat Reader Required - Download here if needed

Since state government does not fund sewage treatment and disposal systems on a regular basis, it is up to local communities to do so.  That is why both the local utilities department and the local health department require populations of people to financially support their programs for provision of services, monitoring of usage, and corrective measures when systems fail.

The health department's minimal charge of $40.⁰⁰ per year per mechanical system is an important part of its funding to monitor and help people maintain their treatment systems.  It also helps identify and correct nuisances and occurrences of pollution that could endanger the health and well-being of many other individuals in the local community.

When can I expect to receive the bill for my annual operation permit?

Operation permits for mechanical systems are billed by township on a monthly cycle.  The following table indicates which townships are billed each month

Month	Township(s) Billed
January	Berne Township
February	Bloom Township
March	Violet Township & Pickerington City
April	Walnut Township
May	Greenfield Township
June	Richland Township/Lancaster City
July	Clearcreek Township
August	Liberty Township
September	Pleasant Township
October	Amanda Township & Madison Township
November	Hocking Township
December	Rushcreek

Please note that the inspection cycle does not necessarily coincide with the billing cycle.

What are my responsibilities as a homeowner?

As the owner of the home, it is your responsibility to maintain your household sewage treatment system to ensure proper working order.  If your system is found to be non-compliant, you will be required to make the necessary repairs or upgrades to achieve compliance.

What kind of maintenance should I be performing on my household sewage treatment system?

If you have a mechanical device as a component of your sewage treatment system, it is important that you perform regular maintenance to ensure the proper working condition of the device. 

• Regularly clean the aerator motor.  Many aeration systems include a motor in the tank with a shaft and aspirator that hangs down into the effluent to disperse air into the system.  Over time, debris (i.e. hair, lint) will collect on the shaft.  On a regular basis, the motor should be pulled and debris removed from the shaft.
• If the motor/pump stops working or the alarm indicator goes off, check the device as soon as possible.  The motor may need to be serviced.  Any service work performed on the motor/pump should be completed by a qualified service provider.
• Some devices are designed to run on a timer.  It is important that the device is operating as it was designed.  If your device is designed to run on a timer, maintain the timed cycle unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer or the health department.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for operation and maintenance of the device.

If you notice that something is wrong with your system, don't wait for the technicians to come around for a routine inspection.  It is important that you work to make sure your system is working properly.  Most mechanical devices are equipped with an audible and/or visual alarm to indicate when the system is not working properly.  If the alarm is activated, do not ignore it!  Service or replace the motor/pump as soon as possible.  If you're not sure what is wrong with the system, call the Fairfield Department of Health and request an inspection of your system.  There is no additional charge for a technician or sanitarian to inspect your sewage treatment system.  The health department will conduct as many inspections as requested or necessary to help achieve compliance.

Your help is needed to make this program successful and prevent pollution to the environment!

There are many problems and issues society has to deal with that one person alone cannot solve.  Sewage treatment and disposal is often overlooked as a necessity for life.  There is a system to deal with it, but it is probably the least well-known and least-understood of systems we deal with as a community.  People know where their electricity, gas, and water come from, and something about how each resource is acquired and dealt with.  Lesser numbers of people know how sewage is dealt with.  It is the goal of the health department to provide enough information to educate homeowners about household sewage treatment systems and how they work.  With this knowledge, we can work together to prevent further pollution of our environment.