Sewage is the waste water released by residences, businesses and industries in a community. It is 99.94 percent water, only 0.06 percent of the water is dissolved and suspended solid material. The cloudiness of sewage is caused by suspended particles. Pathogens or disease-causing organisms are present in sewage. Coliform bacteria are used as an indicator of disease-causing organisms. Sewage also contains metals, minerals and nutrients (such as ammonia and phosphorus).
Private sewage systems are used by households not served by a centralized sewage system. This is accomplished by site evaluations, permits and inspections of new or altered systems, and the investigation of complaints/malfunctioning systems.
Public sewage systems are those systems where households are connected to a centralized sewerage system. Public systems are not regulated by the Health Department, but are governed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Installing a private sewage system?
Installing a private sewage system requires a permit from the Union County Health Department. There are several steps that must be completed before a permit can be obtained.
