Author: Kailee Curtis

Local Health Department

Sewage Management Activities

Proper sewage system design, installation, and maintenance can prevent premature failures and contamination problems from occurring. This helps keep the community and our water resources healthy. It also helps ensure that sewage systems operate effectively throughout their expected lifetime. Replacing a sewage system is costly, so proper maintenance makes good economic sense. On-Site Sewage (Septic) System Programs are meant to help residents avoid exposure to untreated sewage and to reduce contamination of groundwater and surface water resources.

Key Positions
Environmental Health Sanitarians
Environmental Health Secretaries
Environmental Health Supervisors

Wastewater is water that has been used in the home, in a business, or as part of an industrial process.

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
Local Health Department Environmental Health (EH) sanitarians provide inspection and regulation services for all on-site sewage (septic) systems. Other activities can include:
Alternative on-site wastewater treatment (sometimes called engineered systems)
Operational maintenance inspections
Time of sale or transfer evaluations
Vacant land evaluations
Septage hauler inspections and regulation
Sewage system design and inspection
Complaint investigation including illicit discharges
Licensure of sewage system installers
Goals:
Regulation, inspection, and licensing activities around sewage systems are meant to:
Help residents in the district avoid exposure to untreated sewage
Reduce contamination of groundwater and surface water resources
Educate land owners on how improper sewage (septic) system maintenance could negatively impact the health and safety of the public.

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
39 of Michigan’s local health departments indicated that they participate in sewage management activities (of 41 who participated in the survey). Participants might not have answered each question.

Primary Funding Sources for Sewage Management Activities:

Fees

Local Funding

State Grants

Impact:
Proper sewage management activities help to improve the quality of the ground and surface water in our communities, and help to protect the Great Lakes.