Health department: discharging septic system likely only option for Seymour Drive site; engineers exploring ditch/pipe fixes

The Medina County Health Department updated commissioners on an ongoing site issue on Seymour Drive in Granger Township, where a stormwater outlet and a septic system arrangement have produced standing water concerns for neighboring properties.

Deputy Health Commissioner Colin Johnson said county staff inspected the property and reviewed historical aerial photos, noting the outlet's condition changed between 2007 and 2020 and is now a rock-lined ditch. The property owner previously referred the matter to the Ohio Department of Health; ODH and county staff concluded that, because of poor soils and insufficient leaching area, a soil-absorption system cannot be sited there and that a discharging system would be the only feasible septic option under current rules.

Johnson said staff are working with the county highway engineer on potential solutions, including regrading the ditch or extending the pipe to reach steeper fall; the highway engineer indicated subdivision stormwater-maintenance funds might cover about the first 22 feet from the outlet, with further work requiring coordination among property owners and additional funding sources.

Regulatory and maintenance notes: Johnson said the discharging system would be permitted under NPDES rules and that such systems typically require an annual service contract and twice-yearly maintenance plus sampling. He also noted the Ohio sewage rules (last substantially revised in 2015) are due for review and that state-level rule updates could yield different technology options in future.

Next steps: Health and highway engineers will continue to evaluate the outlet and coordinate options for ditch work, pipe extension or other fixes. County staff will relay outcomes and potential funding options to the trustees and affected residents.