The Environmental Health section issues permit for private sewage disposal systems and inspect new construction of private sewage septic disposal systems. They also provide consultation for private water supplies. The environmentalists investigate complaints of septic system failures that contribute to land pollution. They also provide information on health hazards such as improper solid and hazardous waste disposal. They work closely with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Indiana State Department of Health.
Septic System Information
The Washington County Environmentalists inspect all residential septic system sites in the county prior to construction and after installation. If you are dealing with a commercial site, State approval must be granted before proceeding. You may call the Health Department for more information.
For more information, click on the following links:
- Existing Septic System Inspection Application
- Document of local Soil Scientists and Engineers
- Document of Local Installers
- Site Plan and OSS Design Drawing Form
- Application for the repair of private sewage disposal system
- Application for private sewage disposal system
- You Don’t REALLY Want to Install Your Own Septic System, Do You?!!
- How to get on the Installer’s List
- Care and Feeding of Your Septic System (Maintenance)
- “Septic System Central”
- “Anatomy of a Toilet”
Information for Users of Water Wells
Information Regarding Water Testing – Water testing kits may be picked up at the Health Department during their regular business hours.
Directions for Disinfecting Wells and Drinking Water
Environmental Complaints
The Washington County Health Department Environmentalists handle all the environmental complaints. Any complaints involving illegal dumping, illegal burning, or leaking septic systems can be directed to them. Complaints can be made by calling 812-883-5603, Extension 2004, or Extension 2003.
Mosquito Information - West Nile Virus
The Indiana State Health Department has provided funding to allow the Local Health Departments to purchase Mosquito Dunks, a larvicidal product. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a bacterial spore that is safe for animals and fish. It kills mosquitoes by scratching up their stomach and intestinal linings, making them unable to ingest food. Mosquito Dunks are free to the public as long as our supply lasts. Simply call the Health Department at 812-883-5603, Extension 2004, and let us know how large your area of standing water is. A calculation can be made as to how many Dunks you will need.
Ticks and Disease in Indiana
Ticks are small, insect-like animals that live in woodland or in mixed shrub and grassland environments. They have two body segments and eight legs while insects have three body segments and six legs. The life cycle of ticks involves the following three stages: egg. Larva. Nymph, and adult.
About fifteen different species of ticks occur in Indiana. Only four species are normally encountered by people and their pets. These are the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis; the lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum; the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick or the Lyme disease tick), Ixodes scapularis, and the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineous. In Indiana, ticks are responsible for transmitting several diseases. The three most common are Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. For more information on ticks, diseases, and prevention, see “Other Links”.