Well & Septic Program

The Well and Septic Program ensures that the installation and repair of all drinking water wells and on-site sewage disposal systems in Howard County are performed properly. Our program reviews all proposed designs for on-site sewage disposal systems to ensure they follow State and Local regulations. Environmental Health Specialists conduct inspections of wells and onsite sewage disposal systems and test water from private drinking wells to protect residents from diseases associated with germs found in wastewater.

Environmental Public Information Act (PIA) Request Public File Search

Onsite Sewage Disposal System (OSDS) Design Plan Presentation/Training

HCHD will present an Onsite Sewage Disposal System (OSDS) Design Plan presentation on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 10:30am for onsite wastewater professionals and plan designers. The presentation will provide the information, plan components, best practices for system design and tips to avoid installation mistakes or plan revisions.

The presentation will be held at our location at 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045. RSVP to jewilliams@howardcountymd.gov by May 31, 2024.

Wet Season Testing 2024

The Health Department opened wet season testing on January 25, 2024 based on current observed water table levels.

We will be scheduling testing for projects already submitted. New applicants must submit a perc test application and test plan to the Health Department by February 9, 2024 in order to be assured of testing during wet season.

We will continue to monitor water table levels and schedule testing beyond that date for as long as conditions allow. Updates to the wet season schedule will be posted here. Contact the Well and Septic Program at 410-313-1771 with questions.

I want to report or repair a failing septic system

Report a failing septic system: The Well and Septic Program may investigate complaints of failing septic systems and may enforce abatement of systems causing a public health nuisance, such as sewage on the ground surface. If you believe that a septic system is failing and causing a public health nuisance, you may report it to the main Program number at 410-313-1771. Alternatively, you may email AskHealth.

Repair a failing septic system: The Well and Septic Program oversees and inspects the repair and replacement of failing septic systems by conducting percolation tests as needed and issuing septic permits to septic contractors. If you believe your septic system is failing and in need of repair or replacement, you or your septic contractor may contact the Well and Septic Program at 410-313-1771. You may visit the public file search to obtain any existing Well and Septic Program records. A perc test application and septic system information form must be submitted to initiate the repair process.

Percolation Test Application Septic System Repair Form

I want to find Health Department records on a septic system and/or a well

The Bureau of Environmental Health has completed a multi-year project converting paper files to electronic records that are now available on our website. The Public Files Search link contains Health Department Well and Septic Program residential property files from approximately 1985 to the present. Some properties constructed before 1985 may contain a file in this system if activity such as a building permit or sewage disposal system repair occurred after 1985.

Search Public Records by clicking here.*

(*Note: When searching for property records in the database, enter only the numbers of the street address and choose the requested property from results given.)

Non-residential properties, undeveloped lots, subdivision master files, properties in which development is ongoing, and properties in which no activity has occurred since before approximately 1985 are not in this system. If you do not find the property file in this system, please submit a Public Information Act Request.

Environmental Public Information Act Request form

Well & Septic Program