Water Systems

WATER SYSTEMS

Prior to an Installation or alteration of a private water system, a permit from the health department must be obtained by the property owner or installer. Private water systems include wells, ponds, hauled water storage tanks or cisterns as a water source. Determination of water quality by testing private water systems for Coliform bacteria and E.coli is also an important service. In addition to these water tests being required as part of the permit process, the health department will, upon request, collect samples from private water systems and report the lab results. Contact us for current fees. If you are buying/selling a home or upon the homeowners request, the Health Department can evaluate your existing household private water system. 

Forms:

• Permit/Application Site Plan

Resources:

• Continuing Education -  Contractors
• Private Water (Well) Contractors in Ohio
• Types of Private Water Systems
• Know Your Well Water
• Homeowners Learn More about Your Private Water System
• Ohio EPA Approved Laboratories for Testing Private Water Systems
• Power Outage and Private Water Systems
• Private Water Systems and Drought in Ohio
• Disinfection Fact for Well Water After Flooding

General Information:

• Ohio Department of Health Private Water System Site

Regulations:

• Private Water Systems Rules

Property Owner Registration To Construct, Alter, or Seal a Private Water System On Property They Own

Property Owners, for the purposes of the private water systems program, are any person or persons who owns property in which a well, pond, spring, cistern, or hauled water storage tank exists for the purposes of supplying water to a dwelling, dwellings, or building for human consumption, including toilet flushing and laundry.

Effective April 1, 2011, owners of a primary or secondary property, or property rentals in which they do not reside, or owners altering or sealing water wells for their dwelling house shall obtain a registration to construct, alter, or seal a private water system.

Doing work on your own private water system is no longer a simple matter in Ohio. As of April 1, 2011 there are now registration and surety bonding requirements depending on the type of work you are going to do.

If you are a property owner who lives in the house that has the private water system you intend to work on or are a land lord, then you are required to register with Ohio Department of Health as a private water system contractor and obtain either a $10,000 or $20,000 surety bond from an insurance company if you intend to:

Construct a new system (even if you are replacing an old system) which includes:

• Drilling a new well;
• Installing or altering a spring;
• Installing or altering a rainwater cistern or hauled storage tank;
• Digging or altering a pond and installing the treatment equipment;
• Installing a pitless adaptor on a private water system;
• Installing a pressure tank on a private water system;
• Installing continuous disinfection and filtration on a private water system.

You are required to become a registered private water contractor with the Ohio Department of Health but are exempt from the surety bonding requirement if you are: Altering, as defined in OAC 3701-28-01(A), an existing private water system; or Sealing a private water system (OAC 3701-28-17). You are not required to become a registered private water system contractor if you are a property owner who lives in the house that has the private water system on which you intend to do a "REPAIR" as defined in OAC 3701-28-01(TTT) which includes:

• Replacing pumps;
• Replacing wires;
• Routine disinfection not associated with a permit; and
• Similar activities.