Environmental Programs
The Environmental Health Division is responsible for enforcing State and County public health laws and ordinances regarding air, land and stream pollution; industrial pollution; agricultural pollution; drinking water contamination; food contamination; unsanitary refuse disposal; unfit and contaminated buildings and homes; insect and rodent infestations; mosquito control; rabies threats; improper sewage disposal; tattoo and body piercing facilities (including permits and inspections), and investigating a wide variety of health-related complaints from the public. The Environmental Health Division is also in charge of the Department’s Food Section, which is responsible for the County’s retail food establishment licensing and inspection program.
On-site Sewage Systems-
The Environmental Health Division is responsible for administering Adams County’s On-site Sewage Systems Program in compliance with Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Rules and the County Ordinance. We are in charge of overseeing soil testing/ site evaluations and reviewing plans, issuing permits and providing inspections for residential and commercial on-site sewage systems.
If you intend to build a new home, remodel an existing home, or repair a failing septic system; in order to comply with State Laws and the County Ordinance, you are required to contact our Department to begin the process. Our staff will be happy to assist you in the process, which first includes meeting at our office to give you general information and answer questions you may have. We will then help you schedule a soil test/site evaluation with a qualified Soil Scientist, and refer you to excavation contractors certified through our Department’s testing and Certification Program. You must obtain a permit for an on-site sewage system before obtaining a building permit from the Adams County Plan Commission-Building Department.
We are also in charge of investigating and ordering the abatement of any illegal discharges of sewage to the waterways and rivers in our county. The most serious documented problems involve contamination of surface waters resulting in exposed disease-causing pathogens and the prolific breeding of West Nile Virus-transmitting mosquitoes.
Environmental Investigations-
In a normal year, there are approximately 200 environmental inspections/investigations for environmental health-related complaints. Reports are filed and letters and orders are sent to individuals and businesses ordering abatement of conditions that can transmit, generate or promote disease to the public. Such complaint investigations are often conducted with other agencies and officials such as fire departments, police agencies, mayors’ offices, city and county building inspectors, street departments, the emergency management agency, water and sewage treatment plant superintendents, the IDNR’s Conservation Officer, township leaders, and others, including several State inspectors. We investigate unfit, unsanitary and meth-contaminated homes, health hazards on private properties, unsanitary conditions in and around food service establishments, and pollution related to agricultural operations and industries. Occasionally, armed police officers are requested to accompany us on inspections of potentially dangerous places.
Mosquito Control-
Our Department works with municipal street departments and provides larvicides and adulticides for their jurisdictions. We closely monitor the results of the street departments’ adult mosquito collections programs in order to provide early warnings to the public in case West Nile Virus is detected in the samples that are submitted to the ISDH’s lab. We also order physical abatement -or treatment- of breeding sites for West Nile Virus-transmitting mosquitoes, and administer treatments for several troublesome sites in the county. Regular reports and warnings of mosquito-borne disease are issued to the public through the county’s news media.
Environmental Sampling-
The department provides an environmental sampling program for the public. We can collect samples for lab analysis to determine levels of a variety of biological and chemical contaminants. We are also responsible for monitoring the state-required public swimming pool and bathing beach sampling program. Based on test results and inspections, we must occasionally order the temporary closure of facilities that do not achieve satisfactory bacteria test results or adhere to water balance, safety and sanitation requirements.
A courier system with area laboratories is available through our office. Residents with concerns about the safety of their well water may obtain a sample bottle from our office and have the water tested by a private lab. Our Department works with the ISDH Lab and two private labs in the area. Many environmental contaminants can be tested through these labs. In serious cases, the ISDH will occasionally provide professional testing for mold contamination and other airborne contaminants.
Related Resources:
Indiana State Department of Health
http://in.gov/isdh/
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
http://www.in.gov/idem
US Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov
Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/
Indiana State Board of Animal Health
State of Indiana Website
Adams County Website
Allen County Health Department
Mold Information
http://www.in.gov/isdh/24347.htm
Hoosier Microbiological Laboratory – water testing
http://www.hml.com/hml_index.php
Sherry Labs