Environmental Health staff are responsible for: the preservation and improvement of the environment; the safety of food products; assurance of proper sewage disposal; protection of potable water supplies; elimination of nuisances or environmental hazards; investigation of and education about West Nile and Zika Virus; and the inspection of tanning salons, geothermal systems, and body art establishments.
For more information about Environmental Health services please contact us. Environmental Health staff work to minimize environmental problems through public education programs and enforcement of local and state ordinances.
RCHD staff operates within the guidelines of the State of Illinois Body Art Ordinance to secure standards to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Randolph County through regulation of establishments that perform body art procedures. For more information please call (618) 826-5007.
A valid permit issued by the Health Officer is required for construction or reconstruction of any individual water supply system or geothermal well within Randolph County. RCHD staff inspects all closed loop well systems after installation to obtain correct measurements and plots. For more information call (618) 826-5007 ext. 626.
- Closed Loop Well System Registration and Construction Application
Closed Loop Well System fee is $350.00 for five well boreholes or fraction thereof. - Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Construction Code
RCHD staff conducts necessary inspections of permanent, seasonal, and temporary food service locations, and review plans for new and remodeling food establishments in Randolph County.
During these visits, staff educates food service workers about the actions necessary to ensure food safety and limit food-borne illness in Randolph County by identifying, reducing, and whenever possible, eliminating factors that may cause food-borne illness. For more information contact the health department at (618) 826-5007.
- Low risk (Category III) food establishment $100.00
- Medium risk (Category II) food establishment $225.00
- High risk (Category I) food establishment $375.00
- Temporary Food Stands $50.00
The goal of this program is to eliminate disease and nuisances from improperly treated sewage from onsite wastewater disposal systems. RCHD staff review plans and issue permits for septic systems; inspect construction and installation of septic systems; monitor and inspect septic pumpers to ensure proper pumping, operation, and disposal. For more information call (618) 826-5007.
Permits
Permit to construct system for new sewage system $350.00
Permit to repair existing system $200.00
Permit to install a holding tank $175.00
Permit for community systems installed in one phase $200.00.
Permit for community systems installed in phases $200 plus $40.00 per phase after the first phase
- Licensed Illinois Sewage Disposal System Contractors & Soil Classifiers
Inspection of private water and sewage system for the purpose of selling/buying property $300.00 - Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Code
Environmental Health staff conduct activities with the goal to protect groundwater from contamination and to provide a safe, potable water supply. For more information call (618) 826-5007. To ensure correct installation and operation of water supplies RCHD staff conduct the following: review plans and issue permits for private water wells; monitor the abandonment of wells to ensure proper sealing; and well water sampling for new construction or special conditions.
- Application for Permit to Construct, Modify, or Abandon a Well
Permit to construct, modify, or abandon a well $100 - Randolph County Supplemental Well Application Form
Inspection of private water and sewage systems for the purpose of selling/buying property $300.00 - This service is currently not available. Please contact 618-826-5007 ext. 626 for details.
- Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Construction Code
- Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Pump Installation Code
Abandoned Wells
An abandoned well is defined as water or monitoring well which is no longer used to supply water, or is in such a state of disrepair that the well or boring has the potential for transmitting contaminants into an aquifer or otherwise threatens the public health or safety.
Abandoned and unmaintained water wells can serve as a route for surface-water run-off contamination of the aquifer and hence cause pollution of your own and other wells in the area.
Sampling
RCHD offers well water testing for new construction, or special conditions, for total coliform bacteria. The Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory method is a presence/absence method for the identification of coliform bacteria, which is an indicator of the bacterial quality of water.
Testing for coliform bacteria will reveal if the water supply contains infectious organisms, but it will not provide a direct measure of pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria. The health department does not offer sampling or testing of private water wells. However, water sampling supplies are available for private lab testing.
Each year, we work to inform residents about personal prevention, which is the first line of defense against West Nile Virus (WNV) or other mosquito-borne diseases or illnesses. Our program staff also provide WNV training to community officials and leaders throughout Randolph County. For more information or to inquire about the testing of dead birds for West Nile Virus, please call (618) 826-5007.