ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
PHONE ( 443) 523-1730
FAX (410) 651-4083

The Environmental Health Division works to educate the public and to enforce laws and regulations in the areas of  drinking water supplies, sewage disposal, food protection, air quality, recreational facilities, public health nuisances, lead poisoning prevention, and rabies prevention.

Fees & Application Forms

Services include:

• Animal Bite Reporting & Rabies Investigation
• Rabies Control & Clinics
• Burning Permits
• Sewage Disposal & Septic Permits
• Perc Tests
• Safe Drinking Water
• Food Protection & Restaurant Inspection
• Temporary Food Permits
• Pool, Campground & Public Recreational Facility Inspections
• Care Facility Inspection (Foster homes, ALU's, etc)
• Public Health Nuisances

Public Information:

• Bioterrorism
• Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease & Injury Associated With Animals in Public Settings
• West Nile Virus Information
• Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Hot Weather Tips
• Healthy Swimming 2003 (CDC)
• Lyme Disease Information
• Rabies & Animal Bite Information
• Safe Food Handling
• Pool & Spa Information
• Links to Safe Drinking Water Information
  

PERC TESTS

A perc (percolation) test is a procedure used to determine the rate at which water or sewage effluent will percolate through the soil.  The perc test is only a part of the total lot evaluation used to determine the suitability of a site for on-site sewage disposal.  Most lot evaluations in Somerset County are required by Maryland Department of the Environment Regulations to be conducted at the time of the year when the highest water table can be expected.  This usually means during February, March, and April, however, monitoring wells are checked weekly to determine the exact testing period.  There are a few circumstances that will allow the test to be conducted anytime during the year.

Contact us if you are interested in having a perc test to ensure that the test can be conducted.

Continue to perc test fee and application form .