Environmental health is tasked with approving and inspecting all onsite septic systems and water wells in Greenbrier County. Properly designed and installed septic systems and water wells play an extremely important role in protecting public health. Individuals interested in the installation of a septic system or water well shall submit an application to the office for approval before any work is completed.
Homeowners must submit an application to the office prior to drilling a water well and the well must be drilled by a well driller certified to operate in West Virginia. The health department must visit the property in person to document the proposed well location prior to application approval. Well drillers shall mark the location they plan to drill with a clearly visible marker such as a painted stake or flag. Proposed water wells must meet all separation distances and design requirements set forth in West Virginia Division of Health rule 64 CSR 46.
The health department offers sampling of water for private homes and businesses. The tests offers readings of total and E.coli coliform bacteria. The health department must visit the premises in person to collect the sample. We may not accept samples delivered to the office by an individual.
If you are interested in obtaining a water sample, please complete the following request form and pay the 25$ fee. The collection fee is waived if you provide the department with a doctor's request. The collection fee may be paid online through the following link, in-person at the department, or by mailing a check or money order. Additionally, you will be mailed an invoice from the West Virginia State Lab for their testing fee of 20$.
Septic System Information
Prior to submitting an installation application to the department, individuals shall ensure the lot meets all subdivision requirements as set forth in the following document. Newly created lots must have a subdivision permit issued by the department prior to submission of an septic system installation application.
Once it has been determined that the lot meets all subdivision requirements, the following application must be submitted to the office. The lot must have completed perc test results and health department verified observation hole results prior to approval. Additionally, the proposal must meet design standards as set forth in West Virginia Division of Health rule 64 CSR 47.
Perc tests and installation of the system shall be completed by a septic installer certified to operate in West Virginia. Should it be determined that your lot requires a class II septic system, the installer must further be certified as a class II installer. Homeowners wishing to install a class I septic system on their own property must complete a test administered at the health department. Please contact the health department to schedule a test. Homeowners may not install systems on any other properties. The following links list certified septic installers that operate in and around Greenbrier County.
Septic Tank Cleaner Information
Regular cleaning and pumping of septic tanks is crucial to system performance and system lifespan. A general recommendation for tank pumping and cleaning is every 3 - 5 years. This can be more or less depending on the number of individuals utilizing the system and the system load. For a list of permitted septic tank cleaners in Greenbrier County or any questions regarding septic tank pumping, please contact the health department.