FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHTOWNE ESTATES PUBLIC NUISANCE
AND PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCE

June 21, 2023

The District Board of Health Defiance County met in Emergency Session on Tuesday June 20, 2023.

After being advised that several samples from Northtowne Estates and nearby areas tested above the nuisance threshold for E. coli, the Board passed a resolution declaring Northtowne Estates to be both a public nuisance and a public health nuisance as an emergency caused by conditions or events endangering the public health.

The sewage system located on the property has failed and raw sewage is lying on parts of the property. The sewage system located on the property has failed and raw sewage has spread to adjoining public parks and private properties. E. coli tests have exceeded nuisance levels.

At this time there is no reason to believe that this Public Health Nuisance and the situation has in any way effected city water supply to residences outside of Northtowne Estates Mobile Home Park.

The board further ordered that the mobile home park owner shall remediate and abate the nuisance at their own cost and report back to the board with a report from an independent, qualified sewage engineer and an independent, qualified environmental remediation contractor within 10 days.

“Through continued investigation and testing, the areas found affected by the sewage include the back field of Northtowne Estates, waterways along Diehl Park, and waterways through the Wooded Acres subdivision. Please note, the E. coli results are from surface water tests. Any standing or slow moving water should be avoided by people and their pets.”   Jamie Gerken, Health Commissioner explained.

Diseases acquired from contact with E. coli in water can cause stomach illness, skin, eye and other infections. The most commonly reported symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and low-grade fever. If you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. 

Defiance County General Health District will continue to update through our website at www.defiancecohealth.org, Facebook: Defiance County Public Health, Instagram: @defihealth and Twitter: @DCGHD.

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