New septic system rules in Williams County

Changes are coming to Williams County homeowners who use septic systems. The Department of Health says new state septic tank regulations are causing the county to charge homeowners a small fee each year to help cover costs of septic tanks that fail. According to a 2012 study in Ohio, the failure rate of septic tanks is 31 percent. In Williams County, the failure rate for septic systems was 50 percent in the latest figures from 2014, which is much higher than the state average. Now, the state will now require homeowners to replace their current septic system or repair them, unless they are causing a nuisance. Any new system installed will be subject to a recent operation and maintenance program, and existing systems will gradually be brought in.