PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Wes Vins District Board of Health Mahoning County 330-270-2855 ext. 113 WVins@mahoning-health.org
	DATE: October 3, 2005

Coitsville and Poland Township Septic System Owners to Receive Pumping Reminders

The District Board of Health will begin mailing pumping reminders to nearly 875 Coitsville and Poland township residents with septic systems.

“There is no law that requires homeowners to get their septic tanks pumped,” said Matthew Stefanak, Mahoning county health commissioner. “But reminding homeowners to get their septic systems serviced regularly can save them thousands of dollars in repair costs,” he said. According to Board of Health records, 652 households in Coitsville township and 1,283 households in Poland township rely on septic systems to treat their household sewage.

Septic tanks should be pumped at different intervals depending on household size and water usage.  A four-person household with a 1,000 gallon septic tank should have its septic tank pumped every 3 years.  Homeowners will receive a pumping interval recommendations and a list of licensed pumpers with their reminder letter.  Pumpers notify the Board of Health when they pump a septic tank, and the Board of Health uses this information to keep track of when a septic system was last pumped.

The District Board of Health reminder program has prompted thousands of homeowners in Mahoning County to do preventive maintenance on their septic systems since the program began in 1997. “We believe the program has helped keep many septic systems functioning properly that would have otherwise malfunctioned and threatened public health and the environment,” Stefanak said.

More information about preventing water pollution from household sewage disposal systems can be found on the Health Reports/Advisories page of the District Board of Health website at www.mahoning-health.org.