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Benzie-Leelanau
District Health Department
Frequently Asked Environmental Health Questions: FAQ |
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Q:
When
is a Sewage & Well Evaluation required, and how much does it
cost? A: This evaluation is required in Benzie County any
time an existing dwelling changes ownership, as prescribed in Chapter
2, Article 9 of the Benzie Health Code.
The
fee
for a full evaluation is currently $313, but may be less,
depending on the age of the dwelling.
When you Contact
Environmental Health
for
details, be ready to provide the Tax Identification Number of
the property in question. A:
For residential use, septic tank capacity is based on the number
of bedrooms in the Q:
Who is responsible for taking water samples from a new well? A:
The well owner. All new wells must be chlorinated then
sampled for bacterial and Q:
Should I test my well water for arsenic? A: An arsenic test is not part of the approval process
for a new well. However,
a state-funded program is currently in effect that provides free
arsenic testing for persons using private wells.
Bottles for these tests are available at both the Benzie
and Leelanau offices. It
should be noted that the area in Michigan of greatest concern is
the southeastern portion of the state.
No sample from either Benzie or Leelanau County has been
recorded to date which exceeds the EPA safe limit for arsenic in
drinking water. Visit
this
site
to learn more. Q:
How can I test my home for radon? A: Two types of radon test kits are available through
the Health Department. We
offer a short-term activated carbon test kit for $10
(recommended for initial test) and a long- term alpha track test
kit for $25. To
find out more about radon visit
this
site at the EPA or
call the Michigan DEQ Indoor Radon Program at 1-800-723-6642. Q:
I’ve noticed something unusual about our lake water… A: Many common questions about lake water quality (the
presence of foam, odd colors, etc.) are briefly addressed in the
following brochure.
Detailed
information about swimmer’s
itch
may be found at this MDEQ
site. Q:
What is the status of West Nile Virus in our area? A:
Benzie and Leelanau Counties are two of the 73 Michigan counties
(out of 83 total) in which the presence of West Nile Virus had
been confirmed by the end of Summer 2002. Citizens are no
longer being asked to collect or report dead crows or other
birds. Further information is available from the Michigan
Department of Agriculture or the Centers
for Disease Control. Q:
What can be done to eliminate mold in my home? A: The Health Department does not test homes for mold.
Mold reproduces by means of tiny spores, which are
commonly present in both indoor and outdoor air.
Whether or not these spores succeed in finding a place to
grow depends on the moisture level and other factors. The EPA
suggests a number of simple
ways to prevent or reduce the growth of mold in your home. Q:
Is bio-terrorism a concern for us in Northern Michigan? A:
Visit the Michigan
Environmental Health Association site
for numerous related links. Q:
Does the health department have a record of my well and septic
installations? A:
In some cases, Health Department records date back as far
as the 1960’s. The
more recent the installation, however, the more complete our
records are likely to be. If
you need help locating your septic tank/field, or want
information about your well, contact us with your tax ID number
and we will be happy to check our records. Another useful resource for well information is the DEQ Scanned Water Well Record Retrieval System. This website provides access to well logs submitted to the State of Michigan through 1999. Q: What should I do about an animal bite? A: Some animal bites present a much greater risk of rabies than others. Learn more from the Center for Disease Control
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