Wayne County Health Department - Environmental Health Services Overview:
Inquiries should be directed to:
Loretta J. Firis, RS, MS
Environmental Health Director
email: lfiris@wayne-health.org
Environmental Health is the application of sanitary principles in disease prevention. Activities aimed at the preservation and the improvement of the environment have historically been a major part of public health. Our activities include inspection, consultation, plan review, sample collection, education, persuasion and enforcement.
Some
of the major programs administered by the staff the Environmental Health Division
are highlighted below. For more information on Environmental Health, please see
our Environmental Health/Safety Webpage!
FOOD SERVICE AND VENDING MACHINE OPERATIONS - The Health Department oversees the
Food Service Operations and Retail Food Service Operations to ensure safety of the
food supplies of Wayne County citizens. For more information on Food Safety/Laws
and Regulations please see Food Safety!
PRIVATE WATER SYSTEMS The Health department oversees the Private Water Program and
issues permits for the development and alteration of private water systems, and
makes inspections to determine compliance with state laws and rules, and collects
water samples which are sent to laboratories for bacteriological analysis. For more
information on Private Water Wells and water safety, please see Water Safety!
PLUMBING SYSTEMS The health department administers and inspects new plumbing installations
and alterations in residential and commercial buildings in the county, and outside
of the city of Wooster, for compliance with the state plumbing code. For Wayne County
Plumbing and Building Code information, please see Building Information!
HOME SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS Where public or central sewage works are not provided,
as in predominantly rural areas, individual sewage disposal systems must be installed
with approval by the health department. Waste Water systems installed under health
department approval must comply with stringent state and federal regulations; the
health department must ensure that no nuisances are allowed to endanger the health
and well-being of the citizens of Wayne County. For more information, please see
Private Waste Water Treatment Information!
SEPTAGE is the liquid and solid material pumped from septic tanks, aerobic-type
treatment units, privies, holding tanks or other types of private wastewater disposal
systems when they are cleaned. For more information, please see Beneficial Use of
Bio-Solids!
While there are many acceptable disposal alternatives for septage, land application
is the most commonly used method in Wayne County. Land application of septage is
regulate by the Health Department. Vehicles and farm fields are licensed and inspected
for compliance with Board of Health regulations.
SOLID WASTE ENFORCEMENT is administered by the health department for the Ohio EPA
under a contract with the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District.
We license and inspect landfills, and monitor composting facilities and construction
and demolition debris sites. We regularly inspect infectious waste generators in
the county as well as an infectious waste treatment facility. Finally, we investigate
all complaints of open dumping or improper solid waste storage or disposal. For
more information, please see Solid Waste District Website!
MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS / CAMPGROUNDS in Wayne County are licensed by the health
department and inspected for compliance with state laws and rules, which address
design, construction, sanitation and safety considerations. The Ohio Department
of Health has oversight of the Manufactured Home Program in Ohio. For more information,
please see the Ohio Department of Health's Manufactured Home Webpage!
SWIMMING POOLS/SPAS in Wayne County are licensed by the health department and inspected
for compliance with state laws and rules. In addition, the department recognizes
the need for properly trained pool operators, so we host an annual pool operator
training seminar each spring. Ohio Department of Health's Swimming Pool, Spas and
Special Use Pools Webpage!
ANIMAL BITES/RABIES PREVENTION: All animal bites on humans are required to be reported
to the health department. Each is logged and followed.-up with an appropriate investigation
and consultation. Each animal bite forces a decision about whether or not to quarantine
the animal, sacrifice and test the animal for rabies, or- recommend that the victim
submit to treatment with rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections.
In addition to investigating animal bites, the staff also administers a program
which requires the vaccination of all dogs in the county against rabies. We also
annually assist the Killbuck Valley Veterinary Medical Association with their spring
vaccination clinics.
For more Rabies/Animal Bite Information pleas see
Ohio/Wayne County Rabies Information!