Berlin, Ellsworth reminders: Get septic systems pumped

YOUNGSTOWN -- Nearly 900 residents of Berlin and Ellsworth townships will receive notices this week, reminding them to have their private septic systems pumped.
The notices are sent periodically by the Mahoning County Board of Health.
Matthew Stefanak, health commissioner, said there is no law requiring homeowners to have their septic tanks pumped.
"But reminding them to get their septic systems serviced regularly can save them thousands of dollars in repair costs," Stefanak said.
According to health department records, there are 464 households in Berlin Township and 443 households in Ellsworth Township that rely on septic systems to treat their household sewage.
Stefanak said septic tanks should be pumped at different intervals, depending on household size and water usage. A four-person household with a 1,000-gallon septic tank should have its tank pumped every three years.
Along with their notice, homeowners will receive pumping interval recommendations and a list of licensed pumpers. The pumper notifies the health board when a tank is pumped, allowing the board to keep track of a system's maintenance history.
Stefanak said the health board began sending out letters to private septic tank owners in 1997.
"We believe the program has helped keep many septic tanks functioning properly that would have otherwise malfunctioned and threatened public health and the environment," he said.