Each Health Department has Environmental Health professionals to assist the citizens in assuring food safety and clean drinking water. These professionals also work closely with the emergency planning team and the epidemiologist to investigate food and water borne illnesses, to answer questions about mosquito borne diseases, rabies, and other potential environmental hazards. Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information on recreational water-associated illnesses.
The environmental health professionals evaluate and inspect restaurants, schools, hotels, motels, campgrounds, summer camps, migrant labor camps, adult and child day care centers and vendors at public temporary events for food safety.
Food safety training is extremely important in ensuring that food establishments offer the safest food possible to the public. The Chickahominy Health District strongly recommends that food establishment owners and employees at all levels receive food safety training. Understanding food safety principles can help prevent a food borne illness. This is an illness that is related to the consumption of improperly prepared or handled food.
The Chickahominy Health District offers several food safety classes throughout the year for all levels of food service workers, food establishment owners, temporary food vendors (persons preparing and serving foods at public events) and persons preparing foods for large crowds. Food safety classes offered include: ServSafe® Certification and temporary food vendor classes. A proctored exam for ServSafe® Certification is also offered. Training for groups of food service workers at the requesting facility is available. Educational opportunities for churches and civic organizations who want to learn about food safety are available upon request. Information on food safety topics is also available.
Please visit the following websites for more information on food safety and related topics:
www.vdh.virginia.gov Virginia Department of Health for information on regulations governing restaurants, tourist establishments (hotels/motels), swimming pools at tourist establishments, campgrounds, summer camps, migrant labor camps, product recalls and general public health information.
www.cdc.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information on recreational water-associated illnesses and general public health issues.
www.fda.gov US Food and Drug Administration for information on food safety, general public health issues and product recalls.
www.usda.gov US Department of Agriculture for information on food safety and product recalls.
pubs.ext.vt.edu/category/food-safety Virginia Tech Extension Service for information on food safety and drinking water protection.
FEES
Food Establishment Application
Foodservice Plan Review
Temporary Food Establishment Application
State permit applications for and regulations on food, summer camps, campgrounds, swimming pools, and migrant labor camps
As of July 1, 2009, licensure of the Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator (AOSE) Program will be overseen by the Department of Professional Occupation Regulation (DPOR). VDH will continue to review AOSE work, however; all licensure of Onsite Sewage System Professionals will be conducted by DPOR. Please see DPOR regulations for more information.
On July 1, 2009, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) instituted a program for regulating the operation and maintenance of Alternative Onsite Sewage Systems (AOSS). These sewage systems allow increased usability of valuable land resources while protecting ground water and public health, but incorporate complex designs that require routine maintenance to ensure they are functioning properly.
Owners of AOSS installed after July 1, 2009 are required to record notices in the land records that their residences utilize an AOSS and that they must operate their AOSS in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. They are also required to submit a copy of the Operations and Maintenance Manual provided by their designer to VDH.
On April 7, 2010, the Emergency Regulations for AOSS became effective and require the owners of an AOSS to establish a relationship with a licensed maintenance provider (Operator). The Operator shall make periodic visits to satisfy the maintenance requirements of the AOSS’s manufacturer (at least once a year) and the sampling protocols established by the Emergency Regulations.
AOSS that were installed prior to April 7, 2010 are subject to the performance standards in place at the time they were installed. The main requirements are that the owner maintains a relationship with a licensed Operator, has at least one service visit per year, and keeps a copy of the Operator maintenance log and AOSS manual.
AOSS that were installed after April 7, 2010 are subject to the performance standards outlined in the Emergency Regulations. For established AOSS designs that have received “general approval” from VDH, an initial sample must be taken within the first six months of operation, and then once every five years thereafter (once yearly maintenance visit still applies).
AOSS technologies that are newer and have not established performance histories that would grant them general approval status are required to have more maintenance visits with many additional samples taken.
It is important for owners of AOSS to understand that it is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that their systems are functioning properly and meeting performance standards. Owners may accomplish this by maintaining a relationship with a licensed Operator and learning more about how their system works, what the limitations are, and how simple changes in habit or routine can affect system function.
Information regarding Operator licensure can be found at the Department of Professional Occupation Regulation @ www.dpor.virginia.gov.
For more information on these requirements, please click here. For more information on AOSS operation and maintenance, please contact an environmental health specialist at your local health department.
To protect the groundwater, proper treatment and disposal of sewage waste in rural areas is important. VDH has regulations in place to make sure septic systems are adequate. VDH requires a sewage disposal construction and/or well construction permit for installation, modification, or repair of a septic tank, dispersal field or well in order to make sure the system complies with the current regulations. We recommend hiring a private soil consultant (AOSE) to assist you in locating a drainfield area and designing the best possible system to meet your needs and protect the groundwater. Construction permits for well and sewage disposal systems are valid for 18 months. Additional information pertaining to the permitting process can be obtained at the VDH Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services web site.
Sewage disposal and well construction permit applications are available with the building permit applications. Beginning July 1, 2010, the Virginia Department of Health (VHD) will increase fees charged for certification letters and septic and well permits. The reason for the fee increase is to offset a $3.7 million decrease in state general fund support for local health department operations. In addition, VDH wanted its fees to be more in line with the actual cost(s) of providing the specific service(s). The revised VDH fee schedule is less than or comparable to fees charged by neighboring states.
Onsite Sewage and Well Application Fees effective July 1, 2010
2010, the application processing fees for onsite wells or sewage disposal systems are:
Application Type |
Fee |
Bare application- Certification Letter (Onsite Sewage) |
$400 |
Bare application- Onsite Sewage Construction Permit (Onsite Sewage) |
$475 |
Bare application- Onsite Sewage & Private Well Construction Permit |
$775 |
OSE/PE Certification Letter System <= 1,000 gpd |
$370 |
OSE/PE Certification Letter System >=1,000 gpd |
$1450 |
OSE/PE Onsite Sewage Construction Permit System <=1,000 gpd |
$275 |
OSE/PE Onsite Sewage Construction Permit System >=1,000 gpd |
$1450 |
OSE/PE Combined Construction Sewage Permit & Well System <=1,000 gpd |
$575 |
OSE/PE Combined Construction Sewage Permit & Well System >=1,000 gpd |
$1750 |
Private Well Construction Permit |
$300 |
Repair of existing sewage disposal system |
no fee |
Abandonment of existing private well |
no fee |
Separate county fees may also apply, including:
Goochland well and septic fee |
$40.80 |
Goochland septic fee |
$25.50 |
Goochland additional zoning fee |
$50.00 |
Hanover administrative fee |
$25.00 |
Applications are available for septic system and well permits at your local Health Department or at the county building inspector's office or you can download the following:
Hanover Health Department complete septic application
Chickahominy Health District Septic system repair history questionnaire and instructions
Chickahominy Health District Request for Onsite information
Chickahominy Health District Request for Food Program information
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