North Central Health District

The Environmental Health Section permits facilities and conducts quarterly Food Service inspections. The EH Section also provides education, investigates complaints, and assists the Epidemiology Section with Food-borne Illness Investigations. Environmental Health Specialists operate under the auspices of the Georgia Rules and Regulations governing Food Service, Chapter 290-5-14.

• Houston County Food Code
• Georgia Rules & Regulations for Food Service
• Food Service Manual– Interpretation Manual
• Food Service Manual– Design, Installation and Construction Manual
• Houston County Food Services Scores
• Food Educational Materials in Languages Other than the English Language
• What You Need to Know About Food and Water During Power Outages and Floods

Information for Permitted Food Service Facilities:

• Procedures for Obtaining a Food Service Permit
• Application for a Permanent Facility and Temporary (For-Profit) Service Permit in Houston County
• Preparing for a Food Service Inspection (Checklist)

Information for Non-Profit & Temporary Food Service Vendors:

• Temporary Food Service Inspection Checklist
• Food Safety Brochure for Non-profit Food Events
• Most Common Problems Encountered in Permitting Non-Profit Food Services
• Most Common Problems Encountered in Permitting Temporary Food Services
• Non-profit Temporary Food Application (Please call the Health Department for instructions on filling out)
• Temporary Food Service Guidelines

Additional Information:

• Supplemental Food Safety & Employee Health Information
• Accredited Certification Programs for Certified Food Safety Managers
• Keeping Foods Safe During an Emergency
• Choking Poster
• Handwashing Poster
• New Employee Health and Hygiene
• Proper Final Cooking Temperatures
• What You Need to Know About Food and Water During Power Outages and Floods
• Guide for Restaurants to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Food Security – Food Industry Management and Employee Awareness Education
• FDA/ORA Compliance Policy Guides (Food)
• Emergency Guidance for Retail Food Service Establishments
• Boil Water Advisory FAQ: English Version; Spanish Version

The goal of the Rabies Control Program is to minimize the spread of the rabies virus in the human population. The EH Section conducts investigations and provides technical assistance to private physicians, veterinarians, hospital emergency rooms, and local animal control shelters by following the Rabies Control Law, O.C.G.A. 31-19, and the Department of Human Resources Rules 290-5-2. The EH section coordinates specimen testing with the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. See the Georgia Rabies Control Manual for more information.

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted in the saliva of infected mammals. The virus causes an encephalomyelitis that is almost always fatal in humans. Human rabies is a completely preventable disease if the risk of acquisition is appreciated and appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (consisting of wound care as well as both active and passive immunization) is obtained. You should reduce your risk of acquiring rabies if you:

• Vaccinate domestic animals as required by regulations
• Avoid contact with stray animals
• Avoid contact with unknown animals
• Avoid contact with injured or sick animals
• Avoid contact with wildlife

REPORT ALL ANIMAL BITES PROMPTLY

All Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers are required by law to report patients with certain notifiable diseases and conditions including animal bites. Animal control, veterinarians, and local law enforcement should also submit animal bite/exposure reports if applicable. Reporting of an animal bite(s) is not restricted to medical personnel and government employees.

It is critical the Health Department receives notification of any animal bite presented in your facility. Rabies is essentially 100% fatal once symptoms are present and the Georgia Rabies Control Law requires that health departments be notified if an animal bite occurs.

Tourist Accommodations include hotels, motels and campgrounds. The Environmental Health staff inspects Tourist Accommodations at least twice a year to ensure the establishment is providing a clean environment. The inspector will check to make sure linens are cleaned daily, cups and utensils are clean and sanitized and rooms are free of pests.

Additional Information:

• Rules and Regulations for Tourist Accommodations
• Bedbug Handbook

The Environmental Health staff inspects swimming pools at least twice a year for seasonal pools and three times a year for pools that are open year round. Inspectors make sure that pool chemicals are sufficient to protect swimmers from recreational water illness.

Pool Health and Safety Tips

• Don’t swim if you have diarrhea.
• Shower before entering the pool to keep body oils and lotions out of the pool.
• Change diapers in the bathroom and wash children well before entering the pool.
• Children need frequent bathroom breaks to avoid accidents in the pool.
• Wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburns. Reapply often.
• Monitor children while they are in the pool.

Rules and Regulations for Swimming Pools

Public Pool ADA Access Information:

• ADA.gov
• Who is affected by the ADA Law
• ADA Standards for Accessible Desingn
• ADA Information Line 800-514-0301
•  Webinar on Accessible Swimming Pools and Spas 
• Accessible Swimming Pools and Spas 
• A Primer for Small Business
• American Disabilities Act Extension March 2012

The most common waste water management system is a septic system. A septic system consists of a septic tank and an absorption field. The tank separates the solids from the liquid. The liquid is dispersed through the absorption field. The water is treated by the soil to remove harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses before it reaches groundwater. The solids left behind in the tank are broken down by bacteria. It is important to have the sludge in the septic tank pumped out on a regular basis, generally every 3-5 years for the average family (2-4 members with a 1000gal tank).

Using your septic system properly will help ensure that it will last for many years. Here are a few tips:

• Conserve water. Wash full loads of laundry and dishes. Don’t do all of your laundry in one day. Fix any leaking fixtures.
• Use pipes to direct rainwater from gutters away from your absorption field.
• Use commercial cleansers and anti-bacterial soap in moderation. The cleansers will kill the natural bacteria found in the tank that help break down solid waste.
• Do not plant trees or bushes near or on top of the absorption field. Roots will block the lines causing failure.
• Do not drive across the absorption field or tank. This could cause the lines or tank to be crushed resulting in costly repairs.
• Do not pour grease, oil, paint or chemicals into the system.
• Do not put anything that is not biodegradable into the system. This includes disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, etc.
• Chemical additives that are sold to help reduce how often a tank is pumped are not recommended by the Health Department.

Additional Information:

• Georgia DPH Pools Information
• A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems
• A Homeowner’s Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems
• Additives in an On-Site Sewage Management System
• Buying or Selling a Home with an Onsite Wastewater System

Private wells use ground water as its water source. Ground water can become contaminated in many ways. Malfunctioning wastewater treatments (leaking septic systems or sewer overflows), naturally occurring minerals and farming practices can all contribute to well contamination. It is your responsibility to keep your well free from contamination. Contaminated wells can cause serious illness not only for your family, but for other households that use the same aquifer for their water source.

There are steps you can take to protect your well from contamination.

• Maintain your septic system to avoid sewage discharge. Pumping your septic tank on a regular basis (see the GA Department of Public Health website for recommendations), conserve water to avoid overloading the system and use anti-bacterial soap and commercial cleaners in moderation.
• Regularly inspect wells for damage. If your well is damaged call a licensed well driller for repairs.
• Don’t discard chemicals near your well.
• Have your well tested annually and regularly disinfect your well.

Before non-public water well can be installed, the homeowner or authorized agent must first apply for a permit with the Environmental Health Department. The application fee and permit includes a site evaluation to determine proper location of the well.

Owner Responsibilities

• It is the owner’s responsibility to notify the Environmental Health Department once the well has been installed. At this point an Environmentalist will revisit the property and take a sample from the well and notify the owner of the results.
• All individual and non-public wells shall be curbed at the surface by the owner with watertight curbing of concrete at least four inches thick and extending at least two feet in all directions from the well casing and sloping away from the casing.
• It is recommended that owner’s of individual and non-public wells have an annual sample taken for bacterial testing to ensure that the well is a safe source of water.

Note: It is the owner’s responsibility to protect their well from contamination. Contaminated ground water can result in serious illness. It is recommended to have your well tested annual. Additional information for water samples and disinfecting your well can be provided by the Environmental Health Department. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Environmental Health Department.

Driller’s Responsibilities

• Driller must be a certified, licensed well driller with the state of Georgia
• Wells must be installed in accordance with State Regulations and all applicable well information (Intents to Drill, Well Data Sheets) must be submitted to the Health Department, Environmental Health Section.
• Follow permit issued by the Environmental Health Department. Make sure well is installed in proper location following state/county mandated setbacks from potential sources of contamination (refer to Georgia Water Well Standards Act).
• After the well has been installed, the driller is responsible for disinfecting the well before any use of the water.

It is recommended that your well water be tested annually for bacteria and a chemical analysis (W-33 analysis) every 3 years. The Environmental Health staff at can test your well for coli form bacteria. Please contact our office at for additional information.

Additional Information:

• Instructions on Chlorination
• What to do with Food and Water During a Power Outage
• Well Abandonment Information