The Environmental Health Division of the Alleghany Health District is dedicated to protecting the public’s environment and enhancing the public health and safety of the community. Broad emphasis is placed on education and public awareness of health concerns. The environmental health division is housed in the Roanoke City Health Department location (540) 283-5050.
The Environmental Health Division is responsible for the following programs:
Although the Commonwealth of Virginia , Board of Health, Food Regulations, 12 VAC 5-421 require yearly inspections, food establishments in the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health District are inspected by this division according to their priority or risk assessment.
Environmental Health Specialist Seniors ( EHSSs ) inspect food establishments that include: restaurants, short order, continental breakfast facilities located in tourist establishments, mobile units, seasonal concessions, temporary food events, festivals, school cafeterias, child care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for adults and institutions.
Restaurant inspections performed since 1/1/03 are now available at the web site, http://www.healthspace.ca/vdh.
These are hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities. They are inspected and permitted. New regulations on TES establishments became effective February 1, 2002. Effective July 1, 2002, a Virginia Permit Fee Policy was passed by the General Assembly.
These are camps that children normally attend during the summer months when school is not in session. The health department is responsible for inspection and permitting these facilities. The highlights of these regulations include approved water and sewage disposal facilities, clean rooms or cabins that are in good repair, approved kitchen facilities that are under restaurant standards and approved swimming facilities.
Campgrounds
Campgrounds may be as primitive as just having “pup tents” or may provide all the comforts of home, depending on the desires of the camper. Some campgrounds provide water hookups, sewage disposal, bathhouses and swimming facilities. As in summer camps, campgrounds are inspected and permitted by the health department.
The facilities are for workers that travel from town to town seeking employment wherever farmers need them. These are inspected and permitted as any other facilities to ensure safe drinking water, proper sewage disposal facilities, specific regulations for housing accommodations such as number of people per bedroom and home kitchen setup.
All apartment complexes, fitness centers, YMCA, YWCA, and government owned public pools are inspected and permitted under local codes. Roanoke City and Roanoke County have local codes that require a $50 fee each pool season before a permit can be issued. Tourist establishment pools and spas are under state regulations as well as local codes.
This program is currently under the jurisdiction of the Building Department. The EHSSs are available to render expertise to building officials on health related problems in housing, however, all housing complaints are presented to the building department.
This division works very closely with the Animal Control Division, reviews reports of all animal bites to insure proper procedures for quarantine, quarantine releases and notifications to victims are performed. When animals are not located for quarantine, personal calls and letters are issued to the victims to assure they are aware of the state health department’s position in obtaining rabies post-exposure shots. This division prepares specimens for shipment to the laboratory in for rabies testing.
Reminder: Rabies is a fatal disease and is one of the most important programs in the division.
Applications for well and on-site sewage disposal systems are received by the district. When standard systems cannot be installed, alternative systems are suggested. This division also investigates many types of sewage complaints.
When a physician reports a child (normally 5-years-old or younger), the EHSS and public health nurse jointly make visits to the child’s home, and other places they may spend time, such as day care centers or babysitters, and advise the parents of proper diet and cleaning practices to reduce the lead levels within the child. Normally dust wipes and chipping paint samples, water and soil samples are collected and sent to a private laboratory for analysis to determine the source of lead in the child’s environment.
These are complaints of trash and garbage not properly contained for pickup by the local Department of Solid Waste Management. Trash, garbage and rat complaints are often received at the same location. Complaints of “bulk” items such as brush, old tires, junk, furniture, etc., are also investigated and property owners notified to remove.
Public water supplies, serving the various municipalities are monitored by the Lexington Regional Office of Water Programs. Private wells are permitted and approved by the local Health Department.
This could cover any environmental health problems not mentioned above on a Case by case basis.
If you need more specific information on any of these public health programs or to file a complaint, please contact our central district office as follows:
Roanoke City Health Department - Telephone: (540) 283-5050
Fax: (540) 857-7315
Mailing Address:
Environmental Health Division
Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts
1502 Williamson Rd. 2nd Floor
Roanoke, VA 24012
Fees for Services:
Food Service Establishments - $40 New and Annual Renewals
Plan Review Fees - $40
Pools - New and Annual Renewals - $50
Tourist Establishments - New and Annual Renewals - $40
Well & Septic Fees – Varies by locality, Contact your local health department.
Information on all Environmental Health Rules and Regulations can be found the VDH Web Site under the Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS). http://www.vdh.state.va.us/EnvironmentalHealth/index.htm
Comments or questions concerning this web page should be sent to: roanokeweb@vdh.virginia.gov
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