Sanitary
General Information
The Sanitary Department of the Oconto County Zoning office enforces the Oconto County Sanitary Ordinance. The Purpose and Intent of the Sanitary Ordinance is to protect and promote the health, safety, aesthetics, and general welfare of the people and communities within Oconto County through administration and enforcement of sound sanitary practices as promulgated by Chapter 145 of the Wisconsin Statutes, Department of Safety and Professional Services Chapters 381-391 and the Sanitary Ordinance. The general intent of the Sanitary Ordinance is to regulate the location, construction, installation, alteration, maintenance, and use of onsite waste disposal systems so as to protect the health of residents and transients and to secure safety from disease, nuisance, and pestilence.
All habitable structures in Oconto County must be served by a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS), otherwise known as a septic system.
Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems are typically in-ground conventional, at-grade, or mound systems. As a last resort, holding tanks are permitted in Oconto County. The type of soils on the property chiefly determines the type of POWTS used on a property. Certified Soil Testers are licensed individuals who evaluate the soil for POWTS suitability. If a habitable structure does not contain plumbing and has no water service, then privies, otherwise known as out-houses, or other alternatives to privies (i.e., composting toilets, etc.) may be used as a POWTS.
With few exceptions, all work performed on a POWTS must be by a properly licensed plumber and permitted by Oconto County. Please contact the Zoning office if you have questions regarding when a permit is needed and if a licensed plumber must perform the work.
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Patrick Virtues
Department HeadPhone: 920-834-6827
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Sanitary
Physical Address
301 Washington Street
Oconto, WI 54153
Phone: 920-834-6827Fax: 920-834-6821
- Can I perform maintenance sooner than every 3 years?
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Yes, maintenance such as pumping at an interval of less than 3 years is acceptable. Some plumbers upon installation inform the owners to pump more frequently to allow the dispersal cells a resting (drying) period. This should be done during the dry summer months.
- In general when is the best time to have my tank pumped or serviced?
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Oconto County's intention is to have all maintenance notices sent between late spring through early fall. Holding off on pumping until late fall increases the possibility of freezing your septic system if the tank is required to be pumped. See question regarding when tanks need to be pumped and the required servicing. All septic tanks need warmth to maintain a temperature above freezing through the winter months. Last winter's weather was conducive to freeze-ups since there was no snow cover for insulation during the cold temperatures. In order to avoid freeze-ups it is best to perform the maintenance in the summer months. If the tanks cannot be pumped until late fall or later provide additional insulation over the tank(s).
- Is there information available on proper use and maintenance of my septic system?
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The information that should be reviewed is the maintenance plan included with the sanitary permit if the permit was issued after July 1, 2000. A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems Manual is available either on the Environmental Protection Agency website or by emailing the Oconto County Zoning Department or phoning 920-834-6827.