Environmental Health Programs

  The Environmental Health program consists of a variety of activities, most of which are mandated by Board of Health regulations or State law. Each program consists of several activities. Sanitarians must inspect operations or premises to compare what is found to a standard (the regulation or law) and then evaluate the inspectional findings to determine compliance with the standard. There is also an enforcement provision for those persons or operations that do not meet standards and an educational and informational component to help upgrade licensed operations and to inform the general public.

Food Safety

  The food program consists of five inspectional activities: Food Service Operations (FSO) (restaurants), Retail Food Establishments (RFE) (grocery stores), Food Vending Machines, Mobile Food Services and Temporary Food Operations (festivals). New and remodeled FSO and RFE construction plans are reviewed, approved and monitored until they are complete. Investigations of all food borne illnesses are completed with recommendations made to affected food operations. 

*Temporary food service forms are now available on-line - click here for the form. These forms should be printed off, completed, and then turned into our office no later than ten days prior to the event.

For more food safety information, visit the following sites:

Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Gateway to Government Food Safety Information
Partnership for Food Safety Information

Home Sewage Treatment

   Much of Wyandot County is unsewered so individual home sewage systems are necessary in order for home building to continue. Due to recent law and rule changes, the process which a premise is evaluated has drastically changed. The first step for a homeowner who wishes to have their new building site evaluated for a septic system is to contact a soils evaluator.  Contact the Wyandot County Health Department to get a list of persons/companies who are interested in testing soils in Wyandot County. The second step is to have a designer/installer design the septic system by using the soils forms which were completed by the soil evaluator. Once the homeowner has the soils form and the completed design, a site review can be conducted by the health department.

Once the staff sanitarian has the completed soils evaluation, approved design, a site review application, and the required fee, an on-site inspection will be conducted to assure the site is suitable for the proposed system. The site review approval is only good for one year. A septic permit must be obtained within that year or the site approval is void. In order to obtain a septic permit, you will need to complete an application, have a registered installer performing the work, and pay the required fee.

Complaints involving malfunctioning systems are investigated and orders to repair are issued with follow up action to assure correction. Sewage installers and liquid waste haulers are also registered and inspected by the Health District.

*Septic system permits are now available on-line. These forms must be printed off, completed, and returned to our department prior to any work being done on the system.

To view the most recent set of household sewage treatment system rules for Wyandot County, click here.

Click here for statewide technical guidance on system components and NPDES system approval. 

Mosquito Program

   The mosquito program in Wyandot County consists of three components. In light of the West Nile Virus situation, education of the public is our primary tool to protect the public. Surveillance entails trapping of mosquitoes throughout the county to determine if the virus is present and also collecting dead birds and submitting them to the Ohio Department of Health to determine if the cause of death was due to West Nile Virus. If you have a dead crow or blue jay you would like tested, double bag it and bring it in to the health department. If it is found over the weekend, please put the animal in the freezer and bring it the next business day.

The mosquito program in Wyandot County consists of two components. In light of the West Nile Virus situation, education of the public is our primary tool to protect the public. Surveillance entails trapping and testing of mosquitoes throughout the county to determine if the virus is present.

With the continued rain and warming weather, the Wyandot County Health Department wants to encourage the public to take time to reduce mosquito breeding sites around homes. The following simple steps will greatly reduce mosquito populations and help protect your family from diseases carried by mosquitoes.

• Empty water from buckets and unused flower pots.

• Inspect roof gutters to assure they are clean and properly drain.

• Dispose of or properly store discarded tires.

The Health Department also recommends that you take personal precautions to protect yourself as you enjoy outdoor activities this summer. If possible, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. If you are planning on being outdoors between dusk and dawn, cover up by wearing socks, shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Wear light colors as these are least likely to attract mosquitoes. And finally, use mosquito repellent containing DEET, 30 percent for adults and 10 percent for children, and always follow label directions.

For more information regarding steps you can take to protect your family’s health from mosquito bites this summer, as well as other great summer safety tips, visit the Ohio Department of Health’s Web site at http://www.odh.ohio.gov or contact the Wyandot County Health Department at (419) 294-3852.

Solid Waste Disposal

   As an EPA approved Health District, inspections are made of solid waste landfills, and generators of infectious waste. Refuse vehicles are licensed and inspected annually.

Nuisances

   Every citizen has the right by law to call attention to problems such as rats, insects, garbage, trash, etc. that impinge on their health, safety and well-being. These problems are considered in the Recommended Premises Sanitation Regulations of Wyandot County General Health District. Individuals do not have the right to harm neighbors. Complaints are investigated in a timely manner so as to maintain proper community sanitation standards. 

*Nuisance complaint forms are available on-line - click here for the form.  This form must be printed off and completed, including your name and address in order for our department to investigate the situation. 

Private Water Program

   Clean, healthful water is a necessity for everyone. Therefore, in areas where there is no municipal water system, individual wells are necessary. Well water safety is maintained through registration of water system contractors, inspections, water sampling for laboratory analysis, technical assistance and public education. Sanitarians insure that well development meets State Code requirements to reduce the possibilities of ground water contamination. Water hauler vehicles are also inspected annually.

    Water well logs can also be found on the internet at:  http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/maptechs/wellogs/app/

    To schedule a bacteria test for your private water system, contact the health department during normal business hours. Samples are taken Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings. A total coliform bacteria sample costs $40.00. Other samples can be taken; call the office for prices.

  

Rabies Control

   Investigations are conducted of all animal bites reported to our department. Follow up assures that privately owned pets involved in biting incidents are vaccinated against rabies following the quarantine period

To report an animal bite, please complete the following form and return it to the Wyandot County Health Department. Animal Bite Report Form
 

Other Environmental Health Activities

   Under this heading are the following activities: School Sanitation and Safety, Recreational Vehicle Park Camp and Recreation Area Sanitation and Safety and Manufactured Home Park Safety and Sanitation. Upon request, pre-sale evaluations of individual water and sewage systems are performed for home buyers and mortgage lenders.

   Ticks are also submitted by our department for testing. If a tick is found attached to a human or animal, remove it immediately and if it is still alive, bring it in a sealed container to the health department so it can be submitted for species identification. Watch the area on the skin where the tick was attached for a rash. If a rash occurs, or if you acquire any symptoms such as a fever, headaches or muscle aches, see your doctor immediately. 

Swimming Pool

   Public swimming pools are licensed and inspected yearly. Licensed pool operators are welcome to call Jeffrey Ritchey, Wyandot County Health Department Director of Environmental Health at 419-294-3852.

   For more technical guidance, visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/swim/swim1.aspx

Smoke Free Workspace

To make a complaint about a place of employment not abiding by the Ohio smoke-free workspace law, please call the Ohio Department of Health's toll free hotline at 1-866-559-OHIO (6446) or call our office during normal business hours. Once a complaint is received, an investigation will be conducted to assure compliance. If they are found to be violating the law, further enforcement action will be taken.

To obtain approved no smoking signs, visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/alerts/ohiosmokingban.aspx