Private Water Systems
Sanitarians at DCGHD work to minimize the threat of surface water and ground water contamination in order to prevent disease transmission and to protect the quality of surface and ground water. This includes ensuring Private Water Systems are safe in our community. Private water Systems are permitted and inspected by DCGHD Sanitarians.
What is a Private Water System?
A Private Water System means any water system, other than a Public Water System regulated by the Ohio EPA, used for the provision of water for human consumption. “Human consumption” means the ingestion or absorption of water or water vapor as the result of drinking, cooking, dish washing, hand washing, bathing, showering, oral hygiene, or other domestic uses such as flushing toilets and doing laundry. A Private Water System may include, a well, a spring, a cistern, a pond, or a hauled water tank. Explore the images below to learn more about these systems, and to obtain permits for these systems.
Wells are
installed by registered well drillers and excavated below the ground surface to provide water for human consumption.
A Spring is
a PWS where water flows naturally from rock or soil and is collected at a depth of 10 feet or less.
A Cistern is
a PWS that uses rainwater collected from a roof or other rain collection device as a source of water, this requires continuous filtration and disinfection.
A Pond is
constructed by registered pond contractors and Collects surface water that must be treated by a continuous filtration and disinfection system.
A Hauled Water System is
any tank used to store potable water for use as a PWS. Water delivered by registered hauler from a public water source.
DCGHD is responsible for permitting these types of systems. Before a new system is granted approval, an onsite inspection of the PWS is conducted, and an acceptable water sample is obtained.
