McHenry County committee sustains four violations over unpermitted septic work at 8605 Madison Street, allows 30 days for licensed assessment

The McHenry County Environmental Health Committee on a voice vote sustained four violations tied to unpermitted work and operational concerns with the private sewage disposal system serving 8605 Madison Street in Crystal Lake, but ruled the matter may be reconsidered if the property owner provides a licensed professional's assessment within 30 days.

The committee sustained the violations after hearing testimony from the property owner, who said the pumps and improvised piping had been removed and that the system had not required pumping for seven months. Patty Noem, director of environmental health, presented site photos and a chronology of staff inspections that documented disturbed soils, a pump placed inside a dry well, effluent levels above normal, and unpermitted piping leading to an unknown discharge location by the garage. Noem said staff had issued orders to uncover components, a notice of violation, and a final notice after the owner failed to produce timely licensed evaluations.

Why this matters: Committee members said the evidence of unpermitted repairs and prior effluent discharge justified sustaining the violations to protect public health and ensure work on private sewage disposal systems is performed and documented by licensed professionals. The committee added a 30-day deadline for the owner to engage a licensed,…