Private Water Systems
What is a private water system?
Many residents of Warren County rely on private water systems to provide their drinking water because Public Water is not available to their property. Private Water Systems are:
A private water system provides water to less than 25 people a day. This usually includes all residences and some small businesses not served by a public water system. Systems that regularly serve an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily at least sixty days each year are regulated by the Ohio EPA. Any work on a private water system needs to be conducted by a registered water system contractor who is registered with the Ohio Department of Health.
What do I need to do to have a private water system?
In Warren County, new private water systems which include wells, cisterns, hauled water storage tanks, and ponds used for drinking water, are regulated by the Ohio Private Water Systems Regulations. An Application/Permit for a Private Water System must be issued by the Warren County Health District (WCHD) prior to installing or altering a private water system. Our Environmental Health Staff issues installation permits and conducts inspections of all new and altered (repaired or upgraded) private water systems within Warren County to assure the installation was completed correctly and to code.
What happens after a private water system is installed?
Upon completion of a new water system, a environmental public health sanitarian will conduct an inspection to ensure the private water system was installed in accordance with the Ohio Private Water Systems Regulations.
In addition, a water sample needs to be collected by the health department to determine whether the water is safe to drink. It is being tested for the presence of Total Coliform bacteria. Prior to the water sample collection, the private water system needs to be properly disinfected if it does not have continuous disinfection as part of the system, Disinfection/Shock Chlorination of Wells.
A new private water system is approved by WCHD when the appropriate required paperwork is obtained from the water contractor and an acceptable water sample has been obtained from the residence.
Water Samples
Water samples can be collected on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for new private water systems with a new permit and for private water system owners who are curious about the quality of their drinking water. There is a fee associated with the collection and testing of the water for any existing water system. The first sample on a new system is part of the permit fee. Water sample requests can be made by contacting the office at 513-695-1220.
Technical Assistance
Our environmental health staff also provides technical assistance and guidance to homeowners who may be having problems with their existing water system such as low yield of water, discoloration or a bad odor. If needed, an alteration/replacement of the private water system may be recommended. WCHD staff then works with the registered private water contractor to determine the problem and discuss possible solutions.
Hauled Water Storage Tanks
Residences that utilize hauled water storage tanks are re-supplied by private water haulers. The Warren County Combined Health District registers Private Water Haulers as part of the Private Water Program on an annual basis.
Fees are subject to change at any time. We will do our best to keep these fees updated. Please verify the fee when calling in or during your visit.| Program | Fee Type | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Body Art | Permit Renewal | $250 |
| Body Art | Time-Limited Approval for a Specific Event (Temporary Event) | $100 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 1 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $188 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 2 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $208 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 3 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $378 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 4 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $468 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 1 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $258 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 2 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $268 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 3 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $908 |
| Food Service | Commercial Level 4 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $968 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 1 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $94 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 2 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $104 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 3 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $189 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 4 < 25000 Sq.Ft | $234 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 1 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $129 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 2 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $134 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 3 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $454 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Level 4 > 25000 Sq.Ft | $484 |
| Food Service | Mobile Food Service Operations | $158 |
| Food Service | Low-Risk Mobile FSO/RFE | $93 |
| Food Service | Temporary FSO/RFE | $80 |
| Food Service | Non-Commercial Temporary FSO/RFE | $40 |
| Food Service | Vending Location | $17.35 |
| Food Service | Facility Plan Review Fee | $150 |
| Plumbing | Permit Application Fee | $17 |
| Plumbing | Permit Application Additional Fee Per Fixture | $17 |
| Plumbing | Minimum Permit Application Fee | $40 |
| Plumbing | Late Fee Per Additional Fixtures Found During Finalizing | $21.25 |
| Plumbing | Contractor’s Registration Fee | $75 |
| Plumbing | Installer’s Registration Fee | $40 |
| Plumbing | Reinspection Fee | $60 |
| Plumbing | Commercial Plan Review Fee: 1-10 Fixtures | $50 |
| Plumbing | Commercial Plan Review Fee: 11-25 Fixtures | $65 |
| Plumbing | Commercial Plan Review Fee: 26-50 Fixtures | $90 |
| Plumbing | Commercial Plan Review Fee: 51+ Fixtures | $150 |
| Plumbing | Backflow Recertification | $25 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Under 100 Feet | $60 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Over 100 Feet | $75 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Residential Water Service Permit Over 100 Feet Additional Inspection | $30 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Commercial Water Service Plan Review Fee | $50 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Commercial Water Service Permit Fee (includes 3 inspections) | $150 |
| Plumbing | City of Mason Commercial Water Service Additional Fee Per Inspection | $60 |
| Private Water Program | New Installation: Single Family Dwelling | $480.50 |
| Private Water Program | New Installation: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $530.50 |
| Private Water Program | Existing System Alteration: Single Family Dwelling | $336.50 |
| Private Water Program | Existing System Alteration: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $436.50 |
| Private Water Program | Well Abandonment Permit: Single Family Dwelling | $60 |
| Private Water Program | Well Abandonment Permit: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $65 |
| Private Water Program | Conversion Well Permit: Single Family Dwelling | $460.50 |
| Private Water Program | Conversion Well Permit: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $510.50 |
| Private Water Program | Test Well Permit: Single Family Dwelling | $194 |
| Private Water Program | Test Well Permit: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $204 |
| Private Water Program | Water Hauler’s Inspection Fee | $32 |
| Private Water Program | Variance Application Fee | $50 |
| Private Water Program | Hauled Water Storage Tank/Cistern: Single Family Dwelling | $460.50 |
| Private Water Program | Hauled Water Storage Tank/Cistern: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $510.50 |
| Private Water Program | Existing System Alteration Hauled Water Storage Tank/Cistern: Single Family Dwelling | $386.50 |
| Private Water Program | Existing System Alteration Hauled Water Storage Tank/Cistern: Non-Single Family Dwelling | $436.50 |
| Private Water Program | Water Sample | $50 + lab cost |
| Rabies | Test for animal ODH won’t pay for | $30.00 + shipping |
| RV/Campground | Campground 50 or less sites | $410 |
| RV/Campground | Campground More than 50 sites | $410 + $1.00 per site over 50 |
| RV/Campground | Temporary Park-Camp 50 or less sites | $100 |
| RV/Campground | Temporary Park-Camp More than 50 sites | $100.00 + $1.00 per site over 50 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Site Review for HSTS, SFOSTS or GWRS | $160 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Installation Permit for HSTS and GWRS | $524 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Alteration Permit for HSTS and GWRS | $460 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Installation Permit SFOSTS | $554 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Alteration Permit for SFOSTS | $515 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Minor Alteration Permit for Sewage Treatment System | $135 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Operational Maintenance Permit for HSTS and SFOSTS | $30 per year |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Operational Maintenance Permit Fee | $15 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Property Addition (garage, pool, & bedroom) | $100 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Subdivision (Lot Split) – First Two Lots | $160 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Subdivision – Each Additional Lot | $50 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | 711 Land Transfer Review (When Site Visit is Required) | $80 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Re-Inspection Fee | $80 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | STS Installer Registration | $100 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Sewage System Service Provider Registration | $100 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Septage Hauler Registration | $100 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Septage Hauler Vehicle Registration (Per Vehicle) | $25 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Septage Disposal Permit | $200 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Septic Tank Abandonment Permit | $50 |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Collection of Effluent Samples | $50.00 + lab cost |
| Sewage Treatment Systems | Variance Application Fee | $50 |
| Swimming Pools | First Pool or Spa | $320 |
| Swimming Pools | Additional Pool/Spa, Same Location | $295 |
| Vital Statistics | Burial Permits | $3 |
| Vital Statistics | Certified Copy of Birth or Death Record | $22 |