319 Grant for Onsite Sewage Systems in Darke County, Ohio for the Protection of the Stillwater River Watershed

1. 319 Grant for Onsite Sewage Systems in Darke County, Ohio for the Protection of the Stillwater River Watershed

2. What is the 319 Grant? • The 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA), was amended in 1987 to include Section 319 for states to establish a Non-point Source Management Program • Pollution from factories and water treatment plants were reduced when point sources were regulated, but water quality impacts still existed. Therefore, sources of pollution that could not be easily identified (Non-point source pollution) needed to be looked at more closely • Septic systems are considered non-point sources of pollution because there are multiple systems involved in creating the pollution from various locations

3. Why did the Darke County Health Department ask for a 319 Grant? • The Ohio EPA Non-point Source Assessment and a study by the Stillwater River Protection Project showed that much of the watershed was impaired, and septic systems were identified as a source of impact

4. GOAL To reduce water quality impacts from onsite septic systems This will be accomplished by… • Increasing homeowner awareness of septic systems • Prevention of septic system failure through education of septic systems • Repairing and replacing failing septic systems

5. 6 Main Objectives for the 319 Grant

6. 1.  Revise Darke County’s Strategic Plan for on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems that was written in 1985

7. 2. Update database/computer system • Use HDIS (Health District Information System) to keep accurate records of septic tank permits. This will help realtors, bankers, and potential buyers when they are looking for information on a septic system

8. 3. Locate Septic Tanks and Wells •  Use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to map every septic tank and well location in the Stillwater River Watershed. This can be used for future county planning and the development of sanitary districts

9. Inventory • The project will start inventorying those areas with the highest pollution potential rating • The inventory will be done by rural routes, mainly on a township by township basis

10. 4.      Increase voluntary inspection • This project will help to update permits on file with the Health Department to inform bankers, realtors, potential buyers, homeowners, etc., that they can find information about a particular septic system

11. Voluntary Inspection Continued • The program requires that the septic tank be pumped at the time of inspection and risers must be installed • Pumping will increase the life of the system and help to reduce pollution of the watershed

12. Increase homeowner awareness on the proper maintenance of septic systems • Information on septic tank maintenance will be distributed to homeowners when their property is visited. They will also receive a copy of their septic tank permit • Information will be displayed on the Health Department’s website (www.darkecountyhealth.org) for homeowners and the general public

13. Risers • Required since 1977 • They help to locate the septic tank, eliminate digging to get to the tank, and makes owners more aware of their system and maintenance needed • Risers will be provided on a first come, first served basis to 500 septic systems located within the watershed ($200 limit per system) as long as the tank is pumped by a Darke County Health Department registered scavenger

14. 6. Repair or replace failing septic systems • $300,000 in federal match money is available to Darke County homeowners to repair or replace failing septic systems • Information is available on low interest loans to repair or replace failing septic systems • To qualify, the homeowner must fill out an application with the Health Department

15. Advisory Board • An Advisory Board, which consists of people in the community who are affected by or who have an influence on septic tank maintenance or repair, will determine which homeowners receive grant money by ranking a number of criteria

16. Criteria • System is currently failing • System is a discharging system • Fecal contamination in the water • Amount of discharge from the home • Location of nearest stream • Access to central sewage • Pollution of the stream • Nature of problem (example: system is backing up in the home) • Connection to storm water • Density of houses within the area

17. Intent of Project The intent of this project is not for enforcement or to bring working systems to current standards. However, if a septic system is found to be polluting the watershed or creating a nuisance, then the system will need to be brought into compliance

18. What can you do to help? • Many permits on file with the Health Department lack addresses • Permits need to be matched with their respective septic systems • Providing information to the field worker, such as previous homeowners, can help in matching your permit to yourhome

21. Flagging • Information on when homeowners should put out their flags to mark the location of their septic tank will be available in the Early Bird and possibly other papers • This will allow representatives to quickly locate your tank and limit their time on your property.

22. Inventory Letter An inventory letter will be left at each home during the field visits. The letter tells whether or not the field worker found the following items for the property. • The septic permit • The septic tank • The well If one of the above items was not located, an explanation of what the homeowner should do next is given.

23. Where We’ve Been and Where We Are Going. • Townships • Mailings / Public Meetings • Roads

24. Contact Information • Please contact the Darke County Health Department with any questions or concerns at (937) 548-4196 • Amanda Baker at extension 232 • Ginger Bernholt at extension 233 • Roberta Broerman (Environmental Director) Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.