Update on County’s Sewage Disposal Code

The DeKalb County Health Department protects public health by assuring sewage effluent is properly treated and disposed.

The Health Department follows the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code; private sewage disposal is one of the state mandated environmental health programs.

Approximately 50 years ago, septic systems for homes were installed that consisted of a metal, brick, clay, or concrete septic tank to trap the solids, and an outlet tile to drain the effluent (liquids). These tiles then carried the effluent off of the property and eventually drained into a waterway or into waters of the state.

Beginning in the late 1960’s a healthier way to treat the effluent was developed that kept the wastewater on the property on which it was produced. Additionally, in the 1970’s, it became law in Illinois to keep all components and byproducts of a septic system on the property.

Over the last several decades, improvements have been made to these systems and many properties have had septic systems installed that are up to date with Illinois law.

The Health Department conducts site verifications on properties whenever a building permit is issued for a structure.

The Health Department is conducting these inspections for the following reasons:

• To verify the new structure will not cover or destroy the existing septic system, and that access can still be achieved for proper maintenance
• To assure that the septic system is not failing or causing a health hazard.
• To assure that the sewage iffluent is remaining on the property in accordance with state law
• To protect the groundwater

The Planning, Zoning, and Building Department issues building permits and agriculture setback approvals for new structures in unincorporated DeKalb County. If an agricultural building entails new septic or changes to existing septic the applicant must get approval from the Health Department first since the new location of the new or altered septic can affect the final location (setbacks) of the building.

Agriculture buildings that do not have these concerns will receive setback approval and are not delayed for septic system verification.

The Health Department also inspects properties when a complaint is received to make sure that the septic system is functioning properly and not creating a public health hazard or if an owner has a question or concern.

In January 2014 the state updated the Private Sewage Code requiring homeowners to properly maintain their systems with the following:

• All new conventional septic systems will need to be inspected by the homewowner, a private sewage disposal contractor, a licensed environmental health practitioner, a licensed professional engineer or a Health Department representative and potentially pumped within three years of the date of installation and then every five years thereafter.
• All new aerobic/mechanical systems will need to be inspected by the homeowner, a septic contractor, a licensed environmental health practitioner, a licensed professional engineer or a Health Department representative every six months for proper operation.

The Health Department highly recommends that all existing septic systems also follow these requirements to maximize the life of the system.

By Greg Maurice, Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner Director of Health Protection gmaurice@dekalbcounty.org or 815-748-2407
Published originally in the April/May DeKalb County Farm Bureau Connections publication