- Your contractor will decide on the best way to abandon your old septic tank. If it is made of steel, it will probably be crushed in place and buried. If it is made of concrete, the bottom or sides may be broken apart so the tank can no longer hold water, and then the tank can be filled with sand, gravel, or some other type of rubble and buried.
Are septic tank locations public record?
Contact your local health department for public records. These permits should come with a diagram of the location where the septic system is buried. Depending on the age of your septic system, you may be able to find information regarding the location of your septic system by making a public records request.
Can you install your own septic system in Illinois?
To install a new septic system in Illinois you must be recognized as an individual who has a career in the wastewater treatment field. The examinations are mandatory and once you are successful at the higher level, you’ll be qualified to install septic tanks across the state.
Can you have a septic tank without a leach field?
The waste from most septic tanks flows to a soakaway system or a drainage field. If your septic tank doesn’t have a drainage field or soakaway system, the waste water will instead flow through a sealed pipe and empty straight into a ditch or a local water course.
How does a field septic system work?
How septic tanks work. Wastewater from your toilets sinks and laundry drains from your house, through the pipes, and into the septic tank. These tanks are typically designed to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle at the bottom (sludge) while oils and greases float to the top (scum).
How do I find out where my septic tank is located?
Follow the Main Sewer Line Look for a pipe that’s roughly four inches in diameter that leads away from your house. Remember the location of the sewer pipe and where the pipe leaves your home so you can find it outside. The sewer pipes will lead to where your septic tank is located.
How do I know if my house has a septic tank?
A surefire way to confirm whether or not your home has a septic system is to check your property records. It is likely that the building permit and blueprints for your home and property will contain information about the presence (or lack) of a septic tank.
What is a private sewer system?
private sewer means any part of a sewer system which collects wastewater from one building and crosses another property or travels along a street right of way or from more than one building and is not considered a public sewer.
Are septic tanks still legal?
Septic Tanks Explained… Septic tanks cannot discharge to surface water drains, rivers, canals, ditches, streams or any other type of waterway. you are required to upgrade or replace your septic tank treatment system to a full sewage treatment plant by 2020, or when you sell a property, if it’s prior to this date.
What are the alternatives to septic tanks?
Alternative Septic Systems
- Raised Bed (Mound) Septic Tank Systems. A raised bed drain field (sometimes called a mound) is just like what it sounds.
- Aerobic Treatment Systems (ATS) Aerobic systems are basically a small scale sewage treatment system.
- Waterless Systems.
What is an alternative to a leach field?
Sand Filter This is one example of an alternative septic system without a leach field, which makes it compatible with environmentally sensitive areas. In some cases, the treated water can pass directly from the sand filtration system to the soil without needing to flow through more piping to a leach field.
How do you tell if your septic tank is full?
How to tell your septic tank is full and needs emptying
- Pooling water.
- Slow drains.
- Odours.
- An overly healthy lawn.
- Sewer backup.
- Gurgling Pipes.
- Trouble Flushing.
Does shower water go into septic tank?
From your house to the tank: Most, but not all, septic systems operate via gravity to the septic tank. Each time a toilet is flushed, water is turned on or you take a shower, the water and waste flows via gravity through the plumbing system in your house and ends up in the septic tank.
How deep is a leach field?
A standard leach line is considered to be three (3) feet wide and three (3) feet deep with a length as required.
Septic System FAQ’s
When repairing my septic system, do I need to obtain a building permit? A permit from the McHenry County Department of Health is necessary for the installation, modification, alteration, extension, repair, replacement, or abandonment of a septic system in McHenry County. The application for a permit must be filed either in person or by mail. Q: What is the process for obtaining a septic system permit? The Environmental Health Division of the McHenry County Department of Health accepts permit applications either by mail or in person.
See Educational Materials for further information.
Q: May you tell me how I can obtain a copy of the designs for my existing septic system?
Documents pertaining to septic systems that were approved on or after February 1, 2003 may be found at the Environmental Division of the McHenry County Department of Health.
- A little charge is required to cover the costs of printing.
- Septic system installations, repairs, and changes in McHenry County must be carried out by Licensed Septic System Installation Contractors that are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- It is dependent on several criteria, including zoning limits, construction regulations, storm water management standards and the capacity to provide for a potable water supply as well as wastewater treatment and disposal, whether or not a lot may be built on.
- In order to assess whether or not a permit may be obtained for the installation of a septic system to service a new dwelling or construction, a site study might be undertaken.
- Additional information may also be necessary to analyze the impact of the flood plain and setback lengths from structures, existing water wells, and septic systems, which may be particularly important for small lots or parcels with limited development potential.
- Because of the proposed bedroom expansion, the onsite wastewater treatment system must be upgraded to meet current building standards for the total number of bedrooms being proposed.
- A: Aerobic treatment units (ATUs) are permitted in McHenry County.
Surface discharges from onsite wastewater treatment facilities are not permitted in McHenry County at this time. Q: Are holding tanks allowed in McHenry County? A: Yes, they are. A:Holding tanks are only permitted in a very restricted number of situations:
- When used as a temporary measure (for less than 180 days) while awaiting connection to a community sewer
- Or when used as a temporary measure (for less than 6 months) while awaiting installation of a permitted septic system that has been delayed due to weather conditions
- Or when used as a sanitary dumping station in campgrounds or marinas to receive wastewater from recreational vehicles or boats
- Or when used as a special waste holding tank to receive discharges from drains or fixtures that receive any wastewater other than domestic wastewater
As a temporary measure (less than 180 days) while awaiting connection to a community sewer; or as a temporary measure (less than 6 months) while awaiting installation of a permitted septic system that has been delayed due to weather conditions; or as a sanitary dumping station in campgrounds or marinas to receive wastewater from recreational vehicles or boats; or as a special waste holding tank to receive discharges from drains or fixtures that are receiving any wastewater other than domestic wastewater; or as a special waste holding tank
Environmental Applications & Forms
Temporary Food Establishment Application-New Annual Food Health Permit-New Temporary Food Establishment Application-New To run a category 1 or 2 Temporary Food Establishment, you must first get a temporary food establishment license. Services in the field of environmental health that are not listed elsewhere Invoices for a variety of services, such as NewRadon Kits and Food Protection Program applications Application for the Review of a Food Establishment Construction Plan Fixed food outlets that have been freshly established or considerably modified are subject to this requirement.
- An application for an additional outdoor grilling health permit is being submitted.
- An inspection is required for each new or considerably renovated mobile food outlet.
- The Guide for Temporary Food Events pamphlet may be found by clickinghere.
- Permit for a well and/or on-site wastewater treatment system, as well as an application for preliminary review -Septic System Construction, repair, modification, replacement, or abandonment of an onsite wastewater treatment system is required (septic system).
- It is necessary to submit the application in person or via mail.
Septic System Site Evaluation Application -Review of Soil Borings for Septic Suitability -Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Site Evaluation Application Site appropriateness evaluation in writing for the purpose of installing an onsite wastewater treatment system to service a new dwelling or construction.
Application for a Site Permit for Septage Management It is not permissible to store, dispose of, or utilize septage at any location in McHenry County other than a sewage treatment facility that has been approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Pumping Services for Private Sewage Disposal Systems Contractor A permit for a portable toilet technician is required in order to collect, store, transport, dispose, or utilize septage, portable toilet waste, or household sewage from a septic tank, holding tank, privy vault, or sanitary dump station.
Review of Subdivision Plats for Septic Suitability Certification Application Applica-tions for Private Water Supply Permit for a well and/or on-site wastewater treatment system, or an application for a preliminary review -Well System Construction, repair, modification, replacement, or abandonment of a water well in McHenry County is required.
- It is necessary to submit the application in person or via mail.
- This service includes testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates in a water sample.
- Construction, modification, or abandonment of a water well in Illinois requires an application to the Illinois Department of Public Health in addition to the county permit.
- Application to Construct, Modify, or Seal a Closed Loop Well System submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health When submitting a water sample for analysis, the following form must be filled and sent to the laboratory.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requires an application for an open burning permit before a controlled fire may be conducted for habitat restoration.
Public Documents
The Environmental Health Division of the McHenry County Department of Health maintains a comprehensive database of public documents, which is included below. At most cases, records are connected with and kept in a specific place (i.e. address or permanent index number). Documents pertaining to present and historical retail food outlets (permanent, mobile, and temporary) in McHenry County, including but not limited to the following:
- Examining construction plans for new and remodeled food establishments
- Reviewing food inspection reports and supporting documents (such as permits and correspondence
- Notices and photographs)
- And evaluating food safety programs and practices. Investigations into complaints
- Illness investigations
- And other types of investigations
Potable Water Program Documents pertaining to private, semi-private, and non-community public water suppliers, including but not limited to
- Well Permit Records: new wells, replacement wells, well modifications, and water well abandonment from February 1, 2003 to the present
- A record of well construction data (i.e. type, materials, size, depth, general geology, etc. for new and replacement water wells) is maintained in Well Construction Reports (WCR). Inspection and Water Quality Monitoring of Non-Community Public Water Sources: papers pertaining to the inspection and water quality monitoring of non-community public water supplies
- Water Well Examination: An evaluation of the present operation of a water well that is often performed in connection with real estate transactions and/or mortgage refinancing. Includes testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates in water samples
- Complaint investigations
- And
Wastewater Treatment Systems Installed on-Site Documents pertaining to onsite wastewater treatment systems, including but not limited to:
- The following information is contained in the Permit Records: new system installations
- Replacement system installations
- Maintenance
- And abandonment of systems beginning on February 1, 2003
- Site Evaluations: a documented assessment of a site’s suitability for the installation of a compliant onsite wastewater treatment system to service a new house or construction
- Medical Exams: written evaluations of the impact of a new construction or renovation project, or the installation of an auxiliary structure, on an existing onsite wastewater treatment system or water well
- Septic System Evaluation: an assessment of the existing performance of an onsite wastewater treatment system, which is generally performed in connection with real estate transactions and/or mortgage refinancing. A evaluation of proposed subdivisions that would be served by onsite wastewater treatment facilities is included in this category. The paperwork pertaining to the yearly registration and inspection of aeration units servicing non-residential premises that use onsite wastewater treatment systems are referred to as Non-Residential Aeration Unit Registrations. Special Waste Holding Tanks: documents pertaining to the annual registration and inspection of special waste holding tanks that serve properties that have onsite wastewater treatment systems
- Special Waste Holding Tanks: documents pertaining to the annual registration and inspection of special waste holding tanks
- The management of septage, including the maintenance of permit and inspection files for Private Sewage Disposal System Pumping Contractors operating in McHenry County
- And the investigation of complaints
Public Health Nuisance Control Documents linked to the response to complaints of public health nuisances, such as vectors, indoor air quality, open burning, filthy living conditions, and accumulations of garbage, among other things.
- Investigations into complaints
- Radon Analysis Findings: results from Radon test kits bought from the Department (results are only available by zip code)
- Complaint Investigations
Inquiries into customer complaints; Radon Analysis Results: results from Radon test kits purchased from the Department (results are available exclusively by zip code); Complaint Investigations
- Previously conducted historical inspections of unincorporated private swimming pools by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development
- Swimming Pools With Variances for Swimming Pool Barriers
- Complaint Investigations
The licensing, inspection, and water quality sampling of public beaches in McHenry County are all covered by the Public Beaches Documents section of this section.
- Inspection reports, water sample results, and complaint investigations are all examples of what we do.
Laboratory Documents pertaining to the water sample analysis of surface water, private and semi-private water sources, non-community public water supplies, and limited community water supplies done by the McHenry County Department of Health laboratory are available here. Facilities for tanning Documents pertaining to the licensing and inspection of tanning salons in McHenry County, Illinois, are available here. Establishments that specialize in body art Documents pertaining to the license and inspection of body piercing and body art establishments in McHenry County are available for download.
The McHenry County Department of Health does hold a limited number of papers (mostly courtesy copies from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) connected to community water sources that are currently functioning in the county, including the following:
- The IEPA Well Site Survey Reports and Inspection Reports, as well as water sample analysis results, as well as copies of public water supply construction permits and copies of public water supply operating permits, are all available. Information about boil order notifications, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning public notices of intent, IEPA Right to Know Notifications, and complaint responses are all available here.
The Use of Community Sewer Systems The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency regulates community sewage systems, which are located in the state of Illinois (IEPA). The McHenry County Department of Health does contain a limited number of papers (mostly courtesy copies from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) connected to community sewer systems that are currently operational in McHenry County. These records include:
- Applications for permits or construction approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
- Complaint Responses
- Notice of Amendment of Illinois Water Quality Management Plans
Solid Waste Documents pertaining to the storage and handling of solid waste, including but not limited to the following:
- Documentation pertaining to past and present IEPA-permitted solid waste facilities (municipal landfills, compost facilities, transfer stations) in McHenry County Northern Illinois Planning Commission (permits, blue prints, closure plans, correspondence, etc). (NIPC) The Abandoned Dump Sites Program
- The McHenry County Solid Waste Plan and its subsequent revisions
- Reports
- Complaint investigations
- And the Solid Waste Franchising Ordinance are all examples of programs that are available. Bonfire Licenses: These are permits provided by the McHenry County Department of Health for the purpose of having a bonfire for recreation.
Protection of Groundwater Documents pertaining to groundwater contamination prevention, groundwater quality monitoring, and groundwater contamination incidents, as well as water sample analysis of private, semi-private, or non-community public water supplies in order to assess the public health risk posed by groundwater contamination.
Groundwater Protection Documents pertaining to groundwater contamination Please keep in mind that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is the regulatory authority for situations involving groundwater pollution.
- Copies of IEPA data pertaining to contaminated groundwater locations that have been identified
- Analyses of water samples taken near construction sites
- Results of gravel pit monitoring well samples
- And an investigation into complaints
Return to the top of the page
Private Water Supply
Brochure for the Private Water Well System Groundwater is the only supply of drinking water in McHenry County, and it is completely reliant on it. Groundwater is found in geological formations known as aquifers, which are underground reservoirs of water. In its natural condition, groundwater for home use is typically bacteriologically safe for consumption. Please contact the Health Department for further information about wells located in pits or with well heads buried in the ground. Private Well Water Upkeep and Repair
- Your water well system should be positioned at least 50 feet away from a septic tank and 75 feet away from the distribution lines of a traditional septic system
- And Check to verify that the well cap is at least 8 inches above the ground surface. Have your water checked on a yearly basis. In order to help protect your well from the following environmental toxins, the well cap must be securely fastened and adequately screened:
- Surface water, vermin (insects, rats, etc.), fertilizers, herbicides, and pets are all factors to consider.
It is possible that contaminated drinking water may not always seem, taste, or smell any different from safe drinking water. When an aquifer is polluted, cleaning it up might be difficult, if not impossible, due to technological or economic constraints. Symptoms of a faulty water well system include the following:
- Pump that operates on a continuous cycle
- Water pressure has decreased. The water has an unusual odor or taste
- Particles suspended in water
- Casing has been damaged.
In the testing of drinking water, the coliform bacteria are employed as the benchmark to determine the bacterial quality of the water. Coliform bacteria are not a single bacterial species, but rather a collection of numerous diverse bacterial species that are related to one another. Coliform bacteria are naturally occurring bacteria that may be found in the digestive systems of people and animals, as well as in sewage. Some forms of coliform bacteria can be found in the soil and surface waters in their natural habitat (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.).
The majority of wells may be cleansed using a straightforward chlorination procedure.
NITRATESGroundwater systems should be examined for the presence of nitrates as well.
Nitrates are not removed from water by boiling it.
Examples of such compounds include metal, solvants, insecticides, herbicides, and petroleum products.
In addition, the Health Department can provide information on the potential health consequences of these chemicals.
Make a visual inspection of your well casing for signs of damage such as holes or cracks.
earwigs).
Have your water tested at least once a year.
If you are pregnant, are planning to get pregnant, or have a child under the age of one year, you should consider being tested.
If your well has recently been disinfected or chlorinated, you should get the water tested again.
To ensure that water drains away from the well, slant the ground surface away from the well.
DO maintain a record of your water tests and well upkeep and repair costs.
Place your well away from areas where it may be prone to floods.
Contaminants have the potential to migrate down the well casing and into the aquifer.
AVOID discharging potentially dangerous materials into or near your private water well system, such as gasoline, paint, solvents, home cleansers, and the like.
DON’T make the mistake of assuming that because your neighbor’s well water is safe, yours is as well.
Water is stored and transported in aquifers that are 40 feet to hundreds of feet beneath the surface of the earth in layers such as gravel, limestone, shale, sandstone, and other rock types.
Private water well systems, when properly planned, built, and maintained, provide a reliable source of clean drinking water for the property owner.
The (1)well screen serves as the initial filter for big pollutants and functions as a first line of defense.
Drillers inserted a steel or plastic pipe in your well when it was first constructed to prevent the well hole from collapsing during the drilling procedure.
The(4)pitless adapterallows the water to flow through the(5)well casing while providing protection from surface pollution, as shown in the diagram.
Sixth, the well cap serves as a protective cover and should be securely fastened to the casing by means of a vent that enables only air to pass through.
When the pump has to be regenerated, the pressure switch(9) governs when this occurs.
Water flows via the water line and into the(11)pressure tank, where it is stored. A(12)sampling faucet gives the homeowner direct access to a sample of water drawn from the well before it is distributed around the city or neighborhood. Return to the top of the page
