Private Sewage Disposal & Water Supply System Programs - In a rural area such as the southern seven counties, many homes, businesses, and schools do not have access to municipal or city water and sewage disposal systems. Our sewage and water programs assure that sewage and water systems are designed according to code so that neither your health nor the environment is jeopardized.

Through the private sewage disposal program, our Environmental Health staff license and provide training to contractors, inspect and license pumper trucks, review sewage system applications, issue construction permits, assist in the design of sewage disposal systems, and inspect new sewage disposal systems. When the public registers a complaint regarding sewage disposal, it is our responsibility to not only conduct an investigation, but carry out any enforcement activities which are warranted based upon county ordinances.

In the private water supply system program, our Environmental Health staff conduct new water supply inspections in accordance with the Illinois Water Well Construction Code, the Illinois Pump Installation Code, and the Illinois Drinking Water Systems Code. This is accomplished through the inspection of the system and collection of a water sample which is sent in to the state health department lab for laboratory analysis and interpretation of the results. Our trained staff also inspect and collect water supply samples for analysis from non-community and existing private water supply wells.

If you’re building a new home or business and will be drilling a well, it is important that you give the Environmental Health staff member in your county office a call in order to apply for a water well permit. Our staff will also conduct an inspection of your well once it is completed. As with some of our other programs, our office is also responsible for carrying out enforcement activities in regard to non-community water supplies.

Vector Control Program - Through grants from the Illinois Department of Public Health, our staff conduct surveillance, identification, monitoring, and testing of mosquitoes for West Nile. Once we have found positive mosquitoes, our staff then engage in activities to control and eliminate the population. Controlling the positive mosquitoes is an important public health function.

Health & Safety Activities - Everyone who enters one of our buildings is safer due to the health and safety activities lead by our Environmental Health staff. Each Clinic Site and Head Start Center has a safety committee charged with assuring that our facilities are safe for our customers, students, and staff. Our facilities undergo a safety inspection on a regular basis and follow-up to assure that the recommendations are complied with.

Fees - Funding from our local health services grant partially supports the operation of some of our Environmental Health programs, however, there are  fees charged for some services. The fees charged are listed in the table below.