The Evolution of Septic Systems Practices in Ohio

Abstract

Regulations that address management of wastewater in rural areas in Ohio are in the process of being updated. The study described in this article reviewed the legal and regulatory process that occurred in the past decade. Thirty percent of septic systems in Ohio are failing due to installation in shallow soils. The adoption of alternative treatment systems, however, is not widespread. Alternative systems are expensive and in many cases require larger surface areas to build and operate. The establishment of a technical advisory committee provided an avenue to approve new and innovative treatment systems that differ from the existing regulations while the countdown towards the proposed new regulations approached. A survey of county health officials in Ohio highlighted the need for training of regulators and delineation of responsibilities to avoid conflicts of interest. Adequate training of regulators will make the regulatory transition a successful venture.