Franklin County's NPDES Storm Water Permit

In 2003, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) issued a Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Permit to the Franklin County Commissioners. OEPA issued the second-generation permit in January 2009 and it extends through 2014. The permit covers the urbanized unincorporated areas (townships) in the county. The purpose of the permit is to remove pollution from storm drains in developed areas that could contaminate our streams and lakes.  Examples of storm water pollution include:

• Motor oil that someone dumps into a catch basin;
• Gasoline washing off of a parking lot;
• Lawn chemicals that wash off of someone’s property;
• Home sewage systems that connect to a storm drain or field tile.

Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) is partnering with the Franklin County Commissioners and 17 Townships to meet the requirements of Franklin County's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Permit. These requirements include the abatement of public health nuisances caused by failed or failing HSTS that discharge into storm sewers or ditches regulated under the permit. These nuisances will be identified using the prioritized approach in the Prioritized Approach section below.

About Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS)

Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) treat household wastes in areas without access to public sewers or where a public sewer system is not feasible. An estimated 25 percent of the U.S. population relies on onsite wastewater systems to treat and dispose of their household waste (USEPA).

Pollution concentrations from failing HSTS discharges could exceed public health nuisance standards.

A number of factors can cause HSTS to fail, including:

• Unsuitable soil conditions;
• Improper design and installation;
• Inadequate maintenance practices; and,
• The age of the system.

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Identifying and Eliminating Failing HSTS

How will Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) identify and eliminate failing HSTS to stop storm water pollution and public health nuisances?

If an HSTS is causing a public health nuisance by discharging onto the ground, into a stream, river or lake, or into a storm sewer or ditch, FCPH abates these nuisances by enforcing Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 3718 and FCPH Regulation 720. These nuisances will be identified by complaints, the annual inspection of HSTS or by a real estate transfer inspection.

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What health risks could be caused by a failing HSTS?

When HSTS fail, untreated sewage is discharged into the environment. Any contact with untreated human waste can pose health risks. Untreated wastewater from a failing HSTS can contaminate your drinking water supply, your neighbor's drinking water supply, and contaminate streams, drainage ditches, rivers and lakes. There is a potential that untreated sewage from failing systems could carry disease-causing organisms.

These health risks are directly tied to your exposure to and ingestion of untreated sewage. The young, the old and persons with ongoing chronic health conditions or immune system problems are at higher risk for getting sick if exposed. If you are in an area where failing HSTS may be located do not ingest the surface water from ditches or streams, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and do not allow kids or pets to play in the water that looks and smells like it is contaminated with sewage. This common sense approach will protect you and your loved ones.

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Prioritized Enforcement Approach

FCPH will use the prioritized approach outlined here to identify and eliminate failing HSTS:

Expand All | Collapse All

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Maps and Diagrams

All maps and GIS work provided courtesy of Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District. We are continually working to improve the map and search capabilities. Check back soon for additional interactivity.

View a Countywide Map of the Identified Areas of Concern
View a List of Streets in Identified Areas of Concern
HSTS Types and Locations Map
Dry Weather Screening Map
HSTS Nuisance Abatement Algorithm

To make map navigation tools visible, simply move your mouse over to the right side of the map and they will fade into view.
Click on the '+' sign to help zoom in closer to the area you want to see.
Click and drag within the map to move the map itself.
Use the Arrows button to move right, left, up and down as you continue to zoom in.
If you need to start the zoom completely over, click the refresh button at the very top of your screen:
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Diagram of Direct and Indirect Discharge:

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Community Meetings

Franklin County Public Health and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District held four community meetings in the Fall of 2011 to explain our activities related to Franklin County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Permit and how homeowners may be impacted.

The meeting will raise awareness about the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) storm water program and the impact of failed or failing Household Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) on storm water quality. Topics will cover:

• Explanation of public health risks
• Requirements of homeowners with household sewage treatment systems (HSTS)
• Identify and eliminate failing HSTS
• Where are the public health risks
• When to expect these requirements

Meeting Information and Presentations: [Expand All | Collapse All]

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Additional NPDES Resources

Franklin County Illicit Discharge and Elimination Plan

Open Comment Period:

The Open Comment Period has closed. Comments received are currently being evaluated. A revised plan should be posted soon.

Ohio EPA Stormwater Program

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Additional HSTS Resources

11 Ways to Keep Your Aeration System Operating Properly
Septic System Maintenance Fact Sheet - OSU Extension
Storm Water Pollution Brochure

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Links

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
FCPH Regulation 720
FCPH Water Quality Program
Ohio Revised Code 3718

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