New lots: The lot must be approved for building before
a sewage permit will be issued. See section on Building
Lots
Existing lots: Make an appointment for a site inspection.
The fee for this inspection is $100.00.
The Health Department determines the type of system to be installed.
Submit a
plot plan to the Health Department of how the septic system will be installed
along with the soil evaluation form.
Either the homeowner a Septic Installer Registered with the Darke County
Health Department may perform the
installation.
Submit the application to become a Registered Septic Installer.
These applications can be picked up at the Health
Department. The fee for registration is $150.00, and registration
is good for the calendar year. A $25,000 bond must be
submitted with the application in order to be approved.
Submit the application and appropriate fee to become a Scavenger.
The fee is $150.00 plus $15.00 for each truck. The truck
must be inspected before the license will be issued. Also, all
sites of disposal must be approved before waste is permitted to
be disposed. The sites must be inspected initially, and the fee
for inspection is $40.00 per site. For details regarding truck and
disposal requirements, contact the Health Department. These
applications can be picked up at the Health Department. A $5,000 bond must be submitted with the application in order to be approved.
Registration is good for the calendar year.
This is an updated list of requirements for the installation of septic tanks with leach beds in Darke County. These requirements are either good engineering practice and/or are presently in the home sewage treatment system regulations. For a complete set of sewage treatment systems rules and regulations, please refer to Section 3701-29-01 to 3701-29-19 of the Darke County Health Department Sewage Rules:
NOTE: Items in italic print are changes or updates from previous county septic requirements.
* An on-site inspection will be made for each site after the site and soil evaluation has been done and to scale drawing of the proposed sewage treatment system to be installed has been submitted.
* Septic systems must be installed under dry conditions. Systems installed under wet conditions may not be approved. Once approved, the system should be covered as soon as possible so that the weather does not damage the system.
* Only a registered septic system installer or the homeowner may install the septic system.
* Final, to scale drawings of the installed septic system on the enclosed form must be made available to the inspecting sanitarian prior to or at the time of the final inspection.
* Risers to grade are required on each end of the septic tank and on the splitter device. Risers must be of a like or similar material to the tank and splitter box. Sealant must be used to prevent infiltration at the riser-tank interface. A third riser over the center lid of the tank may be required for ease of maintenance if deemed appropriate by the Health Department.
* The septic system is required to be of split field design. The split field system requires a splitter box to divide the system into two equal sections. For example, a 900 lineal foot leach field will be divided into two sections of 450 feet each. Header lines must be installed level, and with the contour of the ground. The splitter box and the riser to the splitter box must be concrete or plastic.
* Systems installed on a slope must follow the contour of the hill and use end-to-end serial distribution. Distribution boxes used to distribute effluent on a slope will not be approved. A continuous manifold run down a slope is not acceptable and will not be approved.
* Schedule 40 PVC pipe shall be used on all lines from the house to the tank and from the tank to either the splitter box and/or distribution boxes. If a header line is used instead of a distribution box, the first 5 on each side of the splitter box may not be used as leaching. Schedule 35 PVC or greater must be used to the point where leaching starts. The first 5of the lines coming out of a distribution box and the first 5 of the lines entering the trenches on each side of the drop boxes must be solid PVC pipe of at least schedule 25.
* All leach lines, either graveless or with gravel, are to be installed level. Level means a fall of one inch or less per 100 of line. Bottom of trenches must also be level.
* A leach line trench will be 36 wide. The maximum depth for the bottom of the trench is 24. The depth of the bottom of the trench will be determined by the site and soil evaluation with a 12 vertical separation distance. (A system may not be approved if it is installed deeper than 24, or if the 12 vertical separation distance is not met).
* Graveless systems must be installed per manufacturers installation guidelines. Only chamber systems are approved.
* If the plumber stubs out of the house too deep for the installer to maintain a maximum of the 12 vertical separation, the installer will have to either use a lift station or bring the plumbers stub out of the house at a higher elevation.
* Each trench of a gravel system must have 12 of gravel (6 under the line, 4 around the line, and 2 on top of the line).
* Gravel must be Ύ to 1½ in size. Soft crushed limestone is not acceptable; however, hard washed limestone is acceptable. The top of the gravel shall be covered with a pervious material such as untreated paper or a 2 layer of hay, straw, or similar material before being covered with earth.
* All leach lines must be installed on 9 centers, and the curtain drain on 8 centers, preferable 10.
* The Tyler chart from the soil profile with special Health Department approval can determine maximum lineal footage for each leach line.
* All new systems must have a curtain drain. This drain must be tied into an adequately functioning county tile, county ditch, or a year-round free flowing stream.
* A recorded easement is required for any outlet tile that is not a county tile that leaves the owners property. The easement shall start at the owners property line and continue until the tile reaches the county tile, county ditch, or year-round free flowing stream.
* The curtain/ gradient drain must be a MINIMUM of 12 below the bottom of the leaching trenches (deeper if possible), and must contain at least (2 under, 4 around the tile, and to the top of the seasonal high water table determined by the soil evaluation).
* An 8 or larger inspection port to grade must be installed on a curtain drain at the curtain drain outlet (point of discharge or exit from owners property), unless discharge is above ground. If discharged above ground, an animal guard is required.
* Some exceptions to these rules may be allowed with prior Health Department approval.
* A septic permit must be purchased before any excavating begins.
* Currently, the fee for a septic permit is $275.00 and the fee for a partial septic permit or a repair permit is $150.00. The operational permit fee is $15.00 per year.
* An office, den, etc may also be counted as a bedroom at the discretion of the Health Department.
* Only septic tanks approved by the state of Ohio may be used.
The septic system shall be a minimum of 10 from any lot or right-of-way line, 10 from driveway, 10 from any building, 10 from any water service line, 50 from any water supply source on the lot or adjacent lot, and 50from any surface water improvement, lake, river, or perennial stream.
The minimum tank and footage requirements are as follows:
3-bedroom home less than 1800 sq. ft. 1500 gallon tank 675 lineal 3 feet wide
3-bedroom home greater than 1800 sq. ft. 2000 gallon tank 900 lineal 3 feet wide
4-bedroom home less than 2300 sq. ft. 2000 gallon tank 900 lineal 3 feet wide
4-bedroom home greater than 2300 sq. ft. 2500 gallon tank 1125 lineal 3 feet wide
5- bedroom home less than 2300 sq. ft. 2500 gallon tank 1125 lineal 3 feet wide
Homes of larger size may require a larger septic system at the discretion of the Health Commissioner.
Requirements between January 1, 2007 and July 10, 2007
When installing systems that were permitted within this time period follow the installation and design requirements that were in place at that time.
Requirements prior to January 1, 2007
This is a list of requirements for the installation of septic tanks with leach beds in Darke County. These requirements are either good engineering practice and/or are presently in the home sewage disposal regulations. They pertain to those systems permitted to be installed prior to the new sewage regulations effective January 1, 2007. For complete set of rules and regulations, contact the Darke County health department.
NOTE: Items in italic print are changes or updates from previous county septic requirements.
* An on-site inspection will be made for each site before a determination is made on the sewage system installation.
* Septic systems must be installed under dry conditions. Systems installed under wet conditions may not be approved. Once approved, the system should be covered as soon as possible so that the weather does not damage the system.
* Only a registered septic system installer or the homeowner may install the septic system.
* Final, to scale drawings of the installed septic system on the enclosed form must be made available to the inspecting sanitarian prior to or at the time of the final inspection.
* Risers to grade are required on each end of the septic tank and on the splitter device. Risers must be of a like or similar material to the tank and splitter box. Sealant must be used to prevent infiltration at the riser-tank interface. A third riser over the center lid of the tank may be required for ease of maintenance if deemed appropriate by the Health Department.
* The septic system is required to be of split field design. For example, a 900 lineal foot leach field will be divided into two sections of 450 feet each. On relatively flat ground, the split field system requires a splitter box with two header lines. The header lines must be installed level. The splitter box and the riser to the splitter box must be concrete.
* Systems installed on a slope must use either drop boxes or end-to-end serial distribution. Distribution boxes used to distribute effluent on a slope will not be approved. A continuous manifold run down a slope is not acceptable and will not be approved.
* Schedule 40 PVC pipe shall be used on all lines from the house to the tank and from the tank to either the splitter box and/or distribution boxes. If a header line is used instead of a distribution box, the first 5 on each side of the splitter box may not be used as leaching. Schedule 35 PVC or greater must be used to the point where leaching starts. The first 5of the lines coming out of a distribution box and the first 5 of the lines entering the trenches on each side of the drop boxes must be solid PVC pipe of at least schedule 25.
* All leach lines, either graveless or with gravel, are to be installed level. Level means a fall of one inch or less per 100 of line. Bottom of trenches must also be level.
* A leach line trench can be a minimum of 18 wide, and a maximum of 36 wide. The maximum depth for the bottom of the trench is 30 (A system may not be approved if it is installed deeper than 30).
* Graveless systems must be installed per manufacturers installation guidelines. Only chamber systems are approved.
* If the plumber stubs out of the house too deep for the installer to maintain a maximum of 30 deep leach trench, the installer will have to either use a lift station or bring the plumbers stub out of the house at a higher elevation.
* Each trench of a gravel system must have 18 of gravel (12 under the line, 4 around the line, and 2 on top of the line).
* Gravel must be Ύ to 1½ in size. Soft crushed limestone is not acceptable; however, hard washed limestone is acceptable. The top of the gravel shall be covered with a pervious material such as untreated paper or a 2 layer of hay, straw, or similar material before being covered with earth.
* All leach lines must be installed on 9 centers, and the curtain drain on 10 centers.
* Maximum lineal footage for each leach line is 115. The maximum lineal footage may be 150 with special Health Department approval.
* If dams are needed in the leach lines, they must be constructed of undisturbed earth. Fill is not acceptable.
* All new systems must have a curtain drain. This drain must be tied into an adequately functioning county tile, county ditch, or a year-round free flowing stream.
* A recorded easement is required for any outlet tile that is not a county tile that leaves the owners property. The easement shall start at the owners property line and continue until the tile reaches the county tile, county ditch, or year-round free flowing stream.
* The curtain drain must be a MINIMUM of 12 below the bottom of the leaching trenches (deeper if possible), and must contain 8 of gravel (2 under, 4 around the tile, and 2 on top).
* An 8 or larger inspection port to grade must be installed on a curtain drain at the curtain drain outlet (point of discharge or exit from owners property), unless discharge is above ground. If discharged above ground, an animal guard is required.
* Some exceptions to these rules may be allowed with prior Health Department approval.
* A septic permit must be purchased before any excavating begins.
* Currently the fee for a septic permit is $250.00 and the fee for a partial septic permit or a repair permit is $150.00.
* An office, den, etc may also be counted as a bedroom at the discretion of the Health Department.
* Only septic tanks approved by the state of Ohio may be used.
* The septic system shall be a minimum of 10 from any lot or right-of-way line, 10 from any building, 10 from any water service line, and 50 from any water supply source on the lot or adjacent lot.
The minimum tank and footage requirements are as follows:
3-bedroom home less than 1800 sq. ft. 1500 gallon tank 900 lineal feet
3-bedroom home greater than 1800 sq. ft. 2000 gallon tank 1200 lineal feet
4-bedroom home less than 2300 sq. ft. 2000 gallon tank 1200 lineal feet
4-bedroom home greater than 2300 sq. ft. 2500 gallon tank 1500 lineal feet
Homes of larger size may require a larger septic system at the discretion of the Health Commissioner.
Page last updated: 10/1/2007