ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

For more information about Child Care Licensing, contact us at 785-826-6600 or send us an email.

The mission of our Environmental Health Services is to provide adequate and reasonable control to eliminate and/or prevent the development of environmental conditions that are hazardous to health and safety, and to promote the economical and planned development of the land and water resources in the county through permits and education.

Our Local Environmental Protection Plan (LEPP) develops, implements, and enforces environmental programs in Saline, Ottawa, Ellsworth, & Lincoln counties, including wastewater disposal, well protection, solid waste disposal, non-point source pollution and subdivision development.

Contact Environmental Health Services at 785-826-6604. Additional web resources can be found on our Resources page.

Private Water Supply Testing and Sewage Disposal Program
Food-Service Inspection Program
Real Estate Transaction Inspections Program
Lead Investigations
County Sanitary Codes
Other Services

Private Water Supply Testing and Sewage Disposal Program tests private water supplies for contaminants. We issue permits for new water wells and inspect existing wells. In addition, we conduct inspections, issues permits, and provides consultation on private sewage disposal systems.

Water Well Testing
All water samples must be collected by a sanitarian. Collection days are Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday by appointment.

Call 785-826-6604 to schedule a test.

$15.00 Tests

• bacteria (coliform & e.coli)

• lead

$7.50 Tests

• chloride

• fluoride

• hardness as calcium carbonate

• total hardness

• iron

• manganese

• nitrate

• pH

• specific conductance

• sulfate

• total dissolved solids

If the entire series is run, the fee is $100.00.

Detailed water test description (PDF, Adobe Reader required)

Water Well Siting
County regulations require that before a domestic water well is drilled, a permit must be obtained from the Health Department. By locating wells away from sources of pollution before they are drilled, chances of contamination are reduced. Call 826-6604 to set up a meeting at the proposed well site.

Well Separation Distances
TABLE

Septic Systems
All new septic systems installed in Saline County must be permitted by the Health Department. This includes a soil profile, the designing of a proper system, and proper installation. Each step is monitored and recorded by a sanitarian. Systems may include traditional septic tank and laterals, lagoons, or alternative systems.

Any system that is being installed to replace an existing system also needs to be permitted by the Health Department. Occasionally a system will fail, or as in older homes, may have a system designed improperly, and illegally discharging sewage. A sanitarian needs to review the site to make recommendations for correcting the problem.

The department maintains records of systems permitted by us from 1962 to present. This can occasionally help new homeowners locate their systems.

Sanitarians also are available for consultation on existing systems and review and approve the septic system capabilities of all new housing developments in the county.

Conducting a Soil Profile
The determination of what type of onsite wastewater system is required can be found in the physical properties of the soil that is available. There are many variables in the physical characteristics of soil. The two characteristics that are most important in determining wastewater systems are soil texture and soil structure.

Soil texture is the size of particles that make up the soil. The traditional method for determining particle size is by separating the particles into three size ranges-sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are the largest, (.05 to 2 mm), followed by silt particles, (.002 to 0.5 mm) with clay particles being the smallest particles (less than .002 mm). As the particles get smaller, they will pack together tighter, and fill in the pore space. Pore space is the space between soil particles where water is transported. Obviously, soil with a large percent of sand particles will transport much more water than a clay soil.

Soil structure is the shape and arrangement of soil particles into peds. Peds are small clusters of soil particles. It is possible to get very technical in terms of soil structure, but for the purpose of onsite wastewater, soil structure will be very simplified. Structure will be described in the four terms - weak, moderate, strong, and massive. Weak, moderate, and strong structure refer to how well soil particles form in to the peds. The stronger the particles form the peds, the more pore space is available for the transportation of water. Massive is a term used to describe a complete lack of structure, where all the particles form one large mass. This situation will to transport water very well.

Conducting the test (PDF, Adobe Reader required)

Separations for waste stabilization ponds

TABLE

Separation distances for septic systems
TABLE

Food-Service Inspection Program inspects over 275 food-service establishments yearly. We deal with complaints, disasters, and do follow-up food-service inspections. We offer classes in food handler education, and promote a safe and sanitary environment in food service.

Salina and Saline County have more than 250 food service facilities to regulate. The Health Department contracts with the State of Kansas to provide these services. Facilities are inspected a minimum of two times each year with all reports sent to the State. Services provides are:

• regular food service inspections

• complaint follow-up and inspections

• plan review for new facilities

• pre-planning inspections for remodeling

• training for food service workers

• joint inspections for new facilities

• education for food service managers

• maintenance of records

• correspondence with food service establishments

• food service establishment consultations

Food safety seminars (PDF, Adobe Reader required)

Real Estate Transaction Inspections Program conducts inspections and water tests on private wells & private wastewater systems at the time of sale, as well as producing reports for lenders, homeowners, and real estate agents.

Loan Approvals
Frequently, Environmental Health is asked by a mortgage institution or realtor for a loan approval These are conducted for homes which have a private water well supply and/or a private wastewater disposal system, such as a lagoon or septic system. For water wells, the sanitarian inspects the well for proper construction and location, then samples the water for bacteria, nitrates, and chlorides. The wastewater disposal system is checked for surfacing and illegal construction or discharge. Reports are made to the appropriate person or agency. Fees for loan approval inspections are:

• water and/or septic: $100.00

For loan approval appointment, call 826-6604. Appointments should be made at least one week in advance. Please call early.

Lead Investigations We perform home inspections on residences where children live when they have elevated levels of lead in their blood, and complete a review of home activities, then submit an extensive report on options for families to reduce risks and levels on lead in the child’s environment.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has set limits of lead in children’s blood. The higher the amount of lead in the blood, the more active the doctor becomes to find the source and reduce the child’s exposure. At the level of 10 ug/dL, Environmental Health is contacted and a sanitarian conducts a home lead investigation.

Results of the investigation are explained to the parents of the child and recommendations made on an individual basis. A report is also sent to the child’s doctor. For general information about lead in homes, or to request a home lead investigation, contact Environmental Health at 826-6604.

County Sanitation Codes

(PDF, Adobe Reader required)

Saline County
Ellsworth County
Ottawa County
Lincoln County

Other Services

Rodent and Insect Control and Consultation

Environmental Health examines sites and makes recommendations where rodents present a problem. In some cases, corrective action may be taken. The department also does larviciding for mosquitoes, which involves treatment of standing water for mosquito larvae during their growing season. Adult mosquito trapping and monitoring is another service of Environmental Health. Sanitarians also are available to consult with those having problems with rodents and insects on their property.

Child Care Facility Inspections
Once a year, a sanitarian conducts an inspection on the environmental setting of child care facilities. This includes adequate space, food preparation and storage, overall maintenance and sanitation of restrooms, living space, recreation areas, and lockers, as well as lighting and ventilation. This inspection is included in the comprehensive inspection required by the State.