Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION: Is a homeowner allowed to install his or her own system?
ANSWER: A homeowner may install the system for a property that will used as his or her primary residence as long as the system is gravity fed, pipe and gravel system and is limited to two systems within a five year period.
QUESTION: Who is exempt from permitting requirements for selling food?
ANSWER: Some vendors of Temporary Food Establishments (TFE’s) may be exempt from the regulations requiring a permit to prepare and sell food to the public. The vendors who meet one of the following conditions will not be required to obtain a permit to operate their TFE:
(i) Incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in accordance with Chapter 55A of the North Carolina General Statutes
(ii) Exempt from federal income tax under the Internal Revenue Service Code as defined in General Statute 105-228.90 (have 501(c) (3) status)
(iii) A political committee as defined in General Statute 163-278.6(14)
A facility meeting one of the above conditions may prepare and sell food to the public without a permit from the health department for no more than two consecutive days, one time per calendar month. The Richmond County Health Department requires proof of the organization’s tax-exempt status such as a federally issued 501(c) (3) document or state issued tax-exempt status document.
QUESTION: How do I chlorinate my well? What to use and what not to use.
ANSWER: Hypochlorite shall be placed in the well in sufficient quantities to produce a chlorine residual of at least 100 parts per million (ppm) in the well. Stabilized chlorine tablets or hypochlorite products containing fungicides, algaecides, or other disinfectants shall not be used. A hypochlorite solution may be prepared by dissolving high-test calcium hypochlorite (trade names include HTH, Chlortabs, etc.) in water about three ounces of hypochlorite containing 65-70% percent available chlorine are needed per 100 gallons of water for a 100ppm chlorine residual. As an example, a well having a diameter of six inches has a volume of about 1.5 gallons per foot. If the well has 200 feet of water, the minimum amount of hypochlorite required would be 9 ounces. (1.5 gallons/ft x 200 feet = 300 gallons, at 3 ounces per 100 gallons; 3 ounces X 3= 9ounces)
Then…The chlorine shall be placed in the well by one of the following methods or its equivalent.
i. Granular hypochlorite may be dropped in the top of the well and allowed to settle to the bottom.
ii. Hypochlorite solutions shall be placed in the bottom of the well by using a bailer or by pouring the solution through the drill rod, hose, or pipe placed in the bottom of the well. The solution shall be flushed out of the rod, hose or pipe by using water or air.
iii. Agitate the water in the well to insure thorough dispersion of the chlorine.
iv. The well casing, pump column, and any other equipment above the water level in the well shall be thoroughly rinsed with the chlorine solution as a part of the disinfecting process.
v. The chlorine shall be dispersed throughout the water supply by running each tap or other fixture until a chlorine odor is evident.
- The chlorine shall stand in the well and water supply system for a period of at least 24 hours.
Then…The well shall be pumped until there is no detectable total chlorine residual in water pumped from the well before the well is sampled or placed in use. Pumping chlorine from the well shall be done in such a manner that the chlorine solution must not be introduced to any part of the on-site wastewater system or sewerage system.
QUESTION: Can I begin construction or move a home on my lot prior to getting Environmental Health permits?
ANSWER: No, permits must be obtained from the Environmental Health Section prior to beginning any construction or moving a mobile home to the site.