Environmental Health Inspections and Surveillance - Citrus County Health Department

INSPECTIONS

Environmental Health Inspections

The services and programs established and offered by the Citrus County Health Department Environmental Health Section is as follows:

OSTDS (Onsite Sewage Treatment Disposals)
Underground Storage Tanks
Healthy Beaches
Pools
Migrant Labor Camps
Water Lab --- Bacteriological only
Piercing
Tanning
Drinking Water Toxics
Super Act
Rabies Surveillance
Arbovirus Surveillance - Sentinel Chickens
Mobile Home Parks

Septic Systems - The objective of the onsite sewage treatment Woman gardening and disposal program is to provide safe and sanitary treatment and disposal of domestic and commercial sewage waste in areas not served by public sewerage systems. The goal of the program is to protect the public from the spread of infectious disease. Improperly built or maintained onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems pollute ground and surface water degrades water quality and spread disease.

You can print out the Septic Application and Checklist. Both the application and checklist are required for the application process. You can check to see if your permit is ready by clicking on the links below. The permit listing is updated daily Mon-Fri by 5pm.

Permits Issued in 2006
Permits Issued in 2007

As of January 1, 2007, Article III of Chapter 42, Citrus County Code requires an inspection of existing septic systems in the unincorporated areas of Citrus County prior to the transfer or sale of any real property in which the system or systems are located. Licensed septic contractors may download the required inspection form by clicking Inspection Form.

Storage Tanks - By contract with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) inspectors here at the Citrus County Health Department perform annual compliance inspections on above ground and below ground fuel storage tanks. As of January 2004, approximately 400,000 inspections have been completed state wide, and compliance rates have improved significantly from their former ratings.

Group Care Facilities - This program involves facility homes for the aged, childcare facilities, dwelling units licensed to serve clients of the Department of Children and Family Services, and schools both public and private. The Department of Health coordinates state-level requirements for physical plant, food service, limited use commercial public water system, and on onsite sewage treatment and disposal system (OSTDS) inspections for these types of facilities. Onsite inspections of these facilities also help to assure that the physical as well as the emotional needs of the citizens served by these facilities.

Dish from a restaurant Food - The objective of this program is to assure that the food service establishments regulated by the department are operated in a safe and sanitary manner to minimize the occurrence of food-related illnesses. Not all food establishments are regulated by our department. Many are under the jurisdiction of the (DACS) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the (DBPR) Department of Business and Professional Regulation .

Healthy Beaches - The coastal beach water samples collected by the county health departments are analyzed for Enterococci and Fecal Coliform Bacteria. Picture of our beach High concentrations of these bacteria may indicate the presence of microorganisms that could cause disease, infections, or rashes. County health departments will issue health advisories or warnings when these conditions are confirmed. For details about the current program and a link to view this information please visit:

Florida Healthy Beaches Program

Pools - When most people think about concerns related to swimming during summertime, drowning, diving injuries, and sunburns come to mind. However, few people think about getting sick from germs found in contaminated water. Rules governing swimming pool construction and operation, which County Health Departments have been delegated the authority to review plans and issue permits.

Migrant Labor Camps - The objective of this program is to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission and injury among migrant farm workers by establishing comprehensive and uniform procedures for permitting and inspecting migrant housing. Brochures providing an overview of the program have been produced in English (pdf 550 kb ) and Spanish (pdf 550 kb ). The text from the Spanish language version is also available as a html page.

Lab test tubes Water Lab - The Citrus County Health Department tests drinking water for the presence or absence of coliform and fecal coliform bacteria and does so according to (NELAC) National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference standards.

Piercing - Body piercing is an invasive procedure that presents the potential for infection.

Tanning - There are risks associated with overexposure to ultraviolet light from tanning beds and booths as there are with overexposure to sunlight. Tanning facility staff will advise you about the maximum exposure time for the particular device you will use, the operation of emergency shutoff controls, the requirement for protective eyewear, and the location of personal hygiene facilities. Tanning bed surfaces and protective eyewear must be sanitized between uses. We inspect tanning facilities twice per year to verify their safe and sanitary operation. In addition, the department developed an Indoor tanning facts brochure to better educate the public.

Limited Use Public Water Systems - This program regulates (public water systems which are not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act), multi-family water systems, and private water systems. Definitions for these systems and statutory authorization to regulate them are found in section 381.0062 of the Florida Statutes. Chapter 64E-8 of the Florida Administrative Code glass of ice water establishes the rules to implement the statutes. It includes setback standards for private water systems, construction standards for multi-family water systems, and construction and operation standards for limited use public water systems. The program is implemented at the local level by the county health departments.

Drinking Water Toxics - The Drinking Water Toxics Program is responsible for coordinating state-wide groundwater sampling for chemical contamination of private drinking water supplies. Contamination monitoring helps protect the public from agricultural chemicals, industrial solvents and heavy metals. The program provides technical consultation to county health officials, state agencies and federal entities regarding human exposures from waterborne contaminants.

Super Act - The Florida Legislature created the State Underground Petroleum Environmental Response Act (SUPER Act) (Chapter 376.3071, Florida Statutes ) in response to ground water contamination resulting from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks. The SUPER Act Program is responsible for identifying areas in the state having drinking water contaminated as a result of leaking underground storage tanks, surface spills and other discharges to the environment. This program conducts well surveillance in potentially impacted areas, notifies the public of potential adverse health effects and provides assistance in obtaining alternative sources of drinking water.

dog sitting in a tire Rabies Surveillance - Rabies Prevention: When human exposure has occurred we monitor possible rabies exposure through the quarantine period of animals and sometimes the collection of laboratory specimens for testing. In order to prevent the spread of rabies we work cooperatively with Citrus County Animal Control and local veterinarians to promote public education and encourage our citizens to have there animals vaccinated.

Arbovirus Surveillance: Monitoring of sentinel chicken flocks of increases in St. Louis encephalitis in wild animals so that populations may be protected, arthropod-borne diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and dengue fever were reduced through mosquito control programs and quarantines.

Mobile Home Parks - This program includes mobile home parks, lodging campers taking a walk on a trail and recreational vehicle parks, and recreational camps. The objective of this program is to minimize the risk of injury and illness in this residential environment. Of primary concern and importance are safe drinking water supply, proper sewage disposal, a safe and disease free swimming pool (where provided), and assurances that the establishment is free from garbage, harmful insects, and rodent infestations. All of these establishments are licensed annually by the department. County health departments provide direct services in the operational aspect of the program through routine inspections, plan reviews, educational programs, and enforcement actions. County health departments also investigate environmental health complaints.