by Karen Mancl, Professor Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University

Are you confused about the Ohio requirements for septic systems?  If the answer is yes, you are not alone.  Septic system requirements have been changing since 2005 and changes will continue for the next 2 years.

Why all the changes?

Ohio has the oldest home sewage disposal code in the US.  Written in the mid-1970s, the Ohio rules set guidelines for counties.  Each county health department can follow the state rules or adopt stricter rules for the county.  Since Ohio has 88 counties it had 88 sets of rules.

Ohio's sewage code was a very progressive document when it was adopted in 1977.  However, technology has developed rapidly since the 1970s making it easier to remove pollutants from sewage over a range of soil conditions.  Unfortunately with such an old sewage code, it is difficult for landowners to use the new technology.

Statewide Standards

Under a new law passed in 2005 two important things happened.  A technical advisory committee of experts was established to review new technology and develop standards for Ohio.  This makes it easier for Ohio citizens to take advances of the progress made over the last 30 years.  To protect Ohio citizens, the public health and the environment the TAC, as it is called, continues to demand and review research based information and testing before new technologies are adopted in Ohio.

The other provision of the 2005 law was the adoption of new, statewide rules.  A committee of experts from around Ohio worked with the Ohio Department of Health to develop new, up-to-date rules.  Also required was continuing education for installers, so the new systems would be properly constructed.

The new rules went into effect January 1, 2007 and Ohio State University and the Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association were busy providing the necessary continuing education.  New systems were being installed throughout Ohio in Spring 2007.  However, some people were unhappy with the new rules and convinced the legislature to rescind the rules and suspend the new law.  That was accomplished in June 2007, when an amendment was added to the end of the state budget bill.

A big-step backward

With the suspension of the new rules, confusion set in.  It was once again up to the 88 counties to enforce their own rules.  Many counties had adjusted to the new statewide rules and decided to continue to operate with them.  Other counties made changes or went back to their old rules.  Without the requirement for continuing education, installers were not enrolling in workshops offer by Ohio State University or the Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association and learning how to properly install the new systems.

The law suspension was originally to last only 2 years.  However, the legislature extended it twice while arguing the fine points of the science of soil and wastewater treatment. 

Back on track

Finally on July 1, 2010 the law suspension was lifted through an act of the legislature.  However, the statewide rules were not restored.  The Ohio Department of Health will spend another 18 months writing new statewide rules.  They will be adopted after January 1, 2012. 

Meanwhile 88 county rules will remain in force, the new technologies will be difficult to use and continuing education will be delayed.  Confusion will continue for a couple more years.  But we are back on track to bring modern sanitation into rural and suburban Ohio in the new century.