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EMD FAQs
(Frequently
Asked Questions)
General Questions
Billing Questions
Food Safety Program (Including
Restaurants)
Plan Review (Food and Pools)
Temporary Food Events
Swimming Pool Program
(Recreational Health)
Drinking Water Program
Lead Poisoning
Miscellaneous
Mold
Septic
Systems
Wells
Hazardous Materials
Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
Waste Generators
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Q:
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Where are you located?
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A:
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The
Sacramento County Environmental Management Department is
located at 8475 Jackson Road, Suite 240 (2nd floor) in
Sacramento. The office is at the intersection of
Florin-Perkins Road and Jackson Road just south of the
'College Green' light rail stop on Folsom Blvd and
between the Howe Ave/Power Inn Road and Watt Ave
Southbound exits off of US 50.
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Q:
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How do I file a complaint with your department?
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A:
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Complaints may be received by phone, US mail, or in
person. All food complaints must be called in at
916-875-8440. For all other complaints, the
Environmental Management Department utilizes the
Sacramento County Community Hazards and Nuisance
Complaint Center at 916-875-5656.
Mail
should be directed to:
Sacramento County Environmental
Management Dept.
8475 Jackson Road, Suite 240
Sacramento, CA 95826-3904
All
complaints are handled in strict confidence for the
protection of the complainant. Please be prepared to
give us the specific nature of the complaint, where it
occurred (e.g., name and address of business), when it
occurred, and who was involved. You must also be
prepared to leave your name and phone number in case
additional information is needed to properly investigate
the complaint and to provide you with a response.
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Q:
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What is the "Nuisance Complaint Center" and why do I
need to call them instead of calling the Environmental
Management Department directly?
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A:
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Sacramento County provides the Nuisance Complaint Center
(full title:
Sacramento County Community Hazards and Nuisance
Complaint Center) for the convenience of County
residents so they have one number to contact for many
types of complaints and information requests.
Complaints about
hazardous material spills, illegal dumping, excessive
trash, public pools, sewage, pest/vermin infestation,
etc. should be called into
Nuisance Complaint Center at 916-875-5656.
The complaint is then routed to the appropriate County
Department for action. You can visit the Nuisance
Complaint Center's web site at the following address:
www.nuisance.saccounty.net
There are some
exceptions: Suspected cases of food poisoning,
or food-borne illness, should be called directly
into the Environmental Health division at
916-875-8440. EMD is the agency responsible for
handling food and food-borne illness complaints for all
of Sacramento County, including incorporated city areas.
The Nuisance Complaint
Center services the Sacramento County Unincorporated
Area only; complaints about areas in incorporated
cities in Sacramento County should be directed to the
appropriate city government department. Links to the web
sites for incorporated cities within Sacramento County
are found on the EMD Links
page.
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Q: |
How do I get a permit for my restaurant or other food
establishment?
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A: |
An application and fee must be submitted to the
Environmental Management Department (EMD) office prior
to opening. If the food establishment is new or
undergoing remodeling, contact the Plan Review
Office at
916-874-6010 before the application is submitted.
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Q: |
What does the inspector do when he/she goes out to a
restaurant or grocery store? Does the facility know
he/she is coming? |
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A: |
The Environmental Health Specialist has many things to do
when conducting an inspection. Primarily, we inspect the
food facility to determine if it complies with the
requirements of the California Health and Safety Code (CHSC).
Sometimes an inspection is confined to a specific
problem resulting from a complaint, and at other times
the inspection may be very comprehensive. All
inspections are conducted with the intent to observe
conditions which may contribute to food-borne illness.
All problems noted during the inspection are brought to
the attention of the management and violations are
pursued to correction.
The food facility does
not usually know when we will be conducting routine
inspections or complaint investigations. Follow-up and
permit inspections may be scheduled in advance.
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Q: |
I've heard a lot about getting sick from food that is
undercooked. How "well done" do I need to cook my food
and how do I know when it is actually "done"? |
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A: |
Foods that contain ground beef need to be cooked until the
internal temperature is 157ºF. Pork must be cooked until
the internal temperature is 155ºF. Poultry must be
cooked until the internal temperature is 165ºF.
Measuring the internal temperature with a metal-stemmed
probe thermometer is the only safe way of determining
when the product is done. Relying on the color of the
meat juices is not always a reliable way of determining
doneness.
Check the
EMD Documents & Forms page
for Food Handling Guideline documents
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Q: |
How cold do I need to keep my refrigerator? How can I be
sure it's cold enough? And, how long can I keep food in
the refrigerator? |
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A: |
Your refrigerator should be kept between 35º and 41º
Fahrenheit. The only sure way to determine the actual
temperature of the refrigerator is to measure it with an
accurate thermometer - do not rely on a thermostat
control "number" as a reliable indication of
temperature. There are several types of refrigerator
thermometers on the market.
The
length of time that foods stay fresh depends on the type
of food and the temperature of the refrigerator. One
good rule of thumb is, "When in doubt, throw it out!"
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Q: |
I've heard about the "danger zone" - what is it exactly? |
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A: |
The "danger
zone" for food preparation and storage is the
temperature range where bacteria grow quickly.
Generally, the "danger zone" is between 41º and
135ºF.
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Q: |
What are the safest ways
to thaw meat? |
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A: |
The safest way to thaw meat, poultry, and fish is in the
refrigerator. Be sure to place the frozen product in a
pan or on a plate to prevent juices from leaking onto
shelves. Place the thawing product on the lower most
shelf in the refrigerator so that juices do not
cross-contaminate clean vegetables and other
ready-to-eat foods.
Another acceptable thawing method is to submerge under cold running
water for not more than 2 hours. The water should be of
sufficient velocity to flush food particles into the
sink drain.
You can safely thaw frozen foods in the microwave oven
and then transfer the product to the stove for further
cooking. You can also go directly to the cooking process
if the product can be properly unwrapped.
Check the
EMD Documents & Forms page
for Food Handling Guideline document
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Q: |
What if I think I got
sick from eating at a restaurant? |
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A: |
All suspected food poisoning complaints must be called at
916-875-8440. You should call the department as soon
as possible in order for the district Environmental
Health specialist to complete a thorough investigation.
Be sure you have the restaurant's name and a street
address before calling. Also, consult with your doctor
if your symptoms are severe and/or you want a definitive
diagnosis.
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Q: |
Can I open a food business at home? |
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A: |
No. Generally speaking, you may not open a food
business at home. Call the Sacramento County
Environmental Management Department, Environmental
Health Division at 916-875-8440 for more
information.
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Q: |
Can I prepare food for sale from my home? |
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A: |
No. All food sold or given away to the public must be
prepared and stored at a commercial food establishment.
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Q: |
What
diseases do cockroaches, flies, rodents, etc. carry?
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A: |
These "vectors" have been shown to carry a variety of
disease-causing organisms. Some of these organisms are
the cause of Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Leptrospirosis,
and a variety of other food-borne illnesses.
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Q: |
The Environmental
Health inspector told me to stop using rat bait in my
restaurant. It's the only thing that works to get rid of
them. What can I do?
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A: |
The problem
with rodent bait in a food facility is that rodents may
carry the poisonous bait in their mouths and drop the
bait throughout the facility, contaminating food, food
contact surfaces, and food related items. Another
problem with rodent bait is that rodents may die in
inaccessible areas causing an odor problem which may be
difficult to clean up.
You must take steps to prevent rodents from entering the
food facility. Make sure there are no holes in walls or
ceiling spaces that would allow the rodent entry. Make
sure there is complete weather-stripping at the base and
sides of all doors and windows. Keep the doors closed
when not in use. Use snap traps or glue boards to trap
the occasional rodent. Remove accumulated food debris
and water. Keep all foods in sealed containers. Repair
any leaking drains or faucets. Remove accumulated
rubbish to prevent rodent harborage. Elevate all storage
off the floor. It is also best to consult with a
professional pest control company regarding any rodent
problems.
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Q:
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When do I need to submit plans?
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A:
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You need
to submit plans for new food and pool construction and
for any remodeled facilities or if there are proposed
changes in the type of operation. Plans must be
submitted before any construction or remodeling begins.
Please contact Plan Review directly at
916-874-6010
for more information.
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Q:
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How
much is the plan check fee? |
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A:
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The fee varies
with the type of facility. Please see our current
Environmental Health fee schedule.
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Q:
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Is
the first year's permit fee included with the plan check
fee? |
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A:
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No. Payment
for the first annual permit fee will be billed after
your establishment is permitted with a health permit.
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Q:
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What
is the status of my plan review? |
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A:
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Call the Plan
Review office at
916-874-6010 to get current information. You will
receive a call from our office when plans are ready to
be picked up.
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Q:
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What
are the requirements to remodel a restaurant? |
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A:
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Requirements
vary based on the scope of the remodel. If you have an
existing facility it is recommended that you speak to
the Environmental Health Specialist assigned to your
area. The specialist can assist you with the process.
Call
916-875-8440 to contact the Environmental Health
specialist assigned to you.
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Q:
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What
do inspectors want to see during the final inspection
and when do I call for an inspection? |
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A:
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All equipment
must be in place and functioning, including the hot
water heater. The facility must be clean and a hood
balance test, if a hood is present, must have been
completed.
Contact your
Environmental Health District Specialist at
916-875-8440 at least two days in advance to schedule
the final inspection.
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Q:
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Where can I find someone who will conduct a hood balance
or performance test? |
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A:
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Check the
telephone Yellow Pages under Heating and Ventilating
(HVAC) Contractors.
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Q:
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Can
I operate an oven without an exhaust hood? |
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A:
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Some ovens do
not require exhaust hoods. Contact our Plan Review
office at 916-874-6010 and speak directly to one
of our plan review staff - please provide the make and
model of the proposed equipment, if available, and we
can check our files for approval notices.
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Q:
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How
should the floor sink be installed? |
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A:
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The floor sink
must be accessible for cleaning, but you should speak to
your local plumbing inspector for height requirements
above the finished floor to ensure it is installed in
accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code. Check with
the Uniform Plumbing Code and your local building
department for specific rules and regulations.
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Q: |
What is
a temporary food facility? |
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A: |
A temporary food
facility is a food facility operating out of temporary
facilities, such as at a fair or street festival. The
temporary food facility is at a fixed location for the
duration of the approved community event. Temporary
food facilities must be approved by this department.
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Q: |
Do I
need a health permit for temporary events? |
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A: |
Yes,
when you serve food to the general public (either selling or
giving away food), a permit is required.
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Q: |
Can I
have a temporary event permit applications mailed to me? |
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A: |
Yes. Applications for this type of permit have to be picked up
if you are within Sacramento County. For all temporary
events, it is best to call the Sacramento County
Environmental Management Environmental Health division at
916-875-8440 and ask about any specific permit
requirements regarding your event.
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Q: |
Do I
need to have an enclosed food booth? |
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A: |
Yes, even if you only have prepackaged food items.
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Q: |
What
kind of equipment can be placed outside the food booth? |
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A: |
A BBQ or any large flame cooking device. Check with your local
fire department for more information. If the local fire
department requires the equipment to be outside the booth,
then we will allow it.
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Q: |
Can I
sell cooked corn from a cart? |
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A: |
No.
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Q: |
What is
the deadline to apply for a temporary event food booth
permit? |
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A: |
Two weeks
prior to the event.
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Q: |
Do I
need a permit to operate my swimming pool or spa? |
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A: |
All public
swimming pools or spas
are required to have a permit to operate issued by the
Environmental Management Department, Environmental Health
Division. Private pools and spas are those which are
intended for non-commercial use and are not used by more
than three owner families and their guests. Private pools
meeting this requirement do not require a permit to operate
from our Department.
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Q: |
Does the
Environmental Management Department need to be contacted
before constructing, remodeling, or altering a public
swimming pool or spa? |
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A: |
Yes,
you must contact our Department before constructing,
remodeling or altering any public swimming pool or spa.
Please call the Plan Review office directly at
916-874-6010
for details.
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Q: |
Do I
need to contact the Environmental Management Department
before I build a fence around my public swimming pool? |
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A: |
Yes,
enclosures and gates for public swimming pools and spas must
meet specific criteria in order to provide maximum
protection for people, especially small children.
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Q: |
Where
can I find out how to properly maintain my swimming pool or
spa? |
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A: |
There are
quite a few swimming pool supply stores in the County that
offer excellent professional advice on how to maintain your
pool. In the event that you would prefer not to maintain the
pool yourself, professional pool service companies are
available. In addition, there are basic pool maintenance
training programs available.
For more information, please visit http://www.poolspanews.com/.
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Q: |
An
inspector for your Department recently left a report
documenting several problems I need to correct. What are
these violations based upon? |
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A: |
Your inspector
is enforcing state law. Both the California Health and
Safety Code and the California Code of Regulations have
sections concerning the design and operation of public
swimming pools.
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Q: |
I want
to place plastic covers over my public swimming pool and
spa. Does the Department of Environmental Health have any
concerns about this? |
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A: |
Yes, floating
pool covers and anchored safety covers can be dangerous to
children and even adults if certain safeguards are not
adhered to. Unless properly designed, plastic covers are not
allowed.
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Q: |
How do
you sanitize the pool after a baby has had a fecal accident
in the pool? |
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A: |
The pool or
spa must be cleared of all pool users and the pool closed
for use while the disinfection procedures are being
followed:
1. Remove all visible fecal material. If a pool water
vacuuming device is used, the waste water should be
discharged to the sanitary sewer, not back into the pool
recirculation system.
2. Raise and maintain a free chlorine residual in the
pool water for a sufficient length of time to disinfect the
pool water. For example, if the free chlorine in the pool is
raised to 20 parts per million (PPM), that residual must be
maintained for 480 minutes (8 hours). If the free chlorine
is raised to 40 PPM, that residual must be maintained for
240 minutes (4 hours). If the free chlorine is raised to 60
PPM, that residual must be maintained for 160 minutes (2.6
hours) and so on. The chlorine concentration must be raised
to no less than 20 PPM immediately after the accident and
after the pool has been cleared of bathers.
3. Pool operators may use higher or lower free chlorine
residuals than that noted above. This will reduce or
increase the amount of contact time required to achieve the
disinfection needed.
4. The pH of the pool water should be between 7.2 and
7.6.
5. The filtration system must be operated continuously
during this disinfection period. The filters should be
backwashed and the filter material replenished, as needed,
at the mid-point of the disinfection period and again at the
end of the period prior to placing the pool back into use.
6. Small volume public pools, such as spas and wading
pools must be disinfected as described above before the pool
can be returned to service. As an alternative, these pools
may be completely drained of all water, if the water is
discharged to the sanitary sewer. A solution of one part of
12% sodium hypochlorite (fresh liquid pool chlorine) in 20
parts of clean water will sanitize all interior parts and
surfaces if left in place for 2 minutes.
7. When the disinfection period is over, the pool may
be re-opened if excess free chlorine levels are reduced to
acceptable values (1.0 - 2.5 PPM), the water pH is balanced
and the filtration system has been backwashed and is
operational.
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Q: |
What if
I think I got sick from swimming in a pool? |
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A: |
Call the the
Sacramento County
Nuisance Complaint Center at 916-875-5656 to
file a complaint. You should call as soon as possible in
order for the field specialist to complete a thorough
investigation. Be sure you have the pool complex's name and
a street address before calling. Be sure to consult with
your doctor if your symptoms are severe and/or you want a
definitive diagnosis.
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Q: |
What is
the main cause of lead poisoning in children? |
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A: |
The primary cause of lead poisoning in children is lead dust
contamination from old deteriorated paint or dry
sanding/scraping of intact paint during repainting or
remodeling.
For more information, visit
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead/
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Q: |
How can
I tell if my child is lead poisoned? |
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A: |
A blood test is the only reliable means of assessing a child's
exposure to lead. Often, a child with an elevated blood lead
level will exhibit no apparent symptoms. But, even low level
exposure can result in lowered mental capabilities if the
exposure is sustained.
For more information, visit
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead/
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Q: |
What are
molds and should I be concerned about mold in my home? |
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A: |
Molds are
simple, microscopic organisms and are found virtually
everywhere - indoors and outdoors. Molds can be found on
plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Molds
are needed for breaking down dead material. Mold spores are
tiny and lightweight, and this allows them to travel through
the air. Mold growths can often be seen in the form of
discoloration, ranging from white to orange and from green
to brown and black.
When molds are present in large quantities, they can cause
allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen.
If you are concerned about molds in your home, extensive
information is provided by the California Department of
Health Services.
Additional general information on molds can be obtained from
the EMD Mold Information page
and from the following sources:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Biological Pollutants in Your Home
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/bio_1.html
Common Indoor Air Pollutants:
http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/biologic.html
Indoor Air Quality: Basics for Schools:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/toolkit.html
American Lung Association:
Indoor Pollution: Biological Agents: http://www.lungusa.org/
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Q: |
How
often should I pump my septic tank? |
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A: |
Your septic
tank should be pumped at least once every 3-5 years. It may
need to be pumped more frequently if there is a large number
of people living in the house.
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Q: |
I'm interested in
purchasing a piece of property in the Sacramento area. What
type of septic system do I need? |
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A: |
Consult the
Test Drill map
to locate your parcel. The location of your parcel within
Sacramento County will help determine the type of system
needed for that area
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Q: |
What is the
approximate cost of a septic system installation in
Sacramento County? |
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A: |
The cost may vary depending on
the type of system required. Consult a Licensed Septic
Contractor for specific details.
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Q: |
Does
laundry/wash/bathing waste water (grey water) need to be
plumbed into my septic system? |
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A: |
YES. The California Health & Safety Code, Section 5411
states that "no person shall discharge sewage or other
waste...in any manner which will result in contamination,
pollution, or nuisance."
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Q: |
Will adding yeast or
other additives such as caustic soda to my septic system
help increase the life of my septic system? |
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A: |
Although there are many
additives on the market that claim to improve your septic
system's performance, there is no data or evidence that
proves that introducing additives to a septic system will
increase the lifespan of the system.
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Q: |
What are the distance
requirements for a septic system (e.g. pits, tanks, leach
fields, etc.)? |
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A: |
Distance requirements vary.
Refer to the
distance requirements summary sheet
for specifics.
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Q: |
When do I need an
Engineered Septic System? |
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A: |
An Engineered Septic System is
required when the geology of the parcel prohibits the use of
conventional systems. Contact Water Protection Staff at
916-875-8400 for further information.
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Q: |
How long does it take
to get a septic system permit? |
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A: |
All
permit applications need to be dropped off at our office
Sacramento County Environmental Management Dept.
Water Protection Division
8475 Jackson Road, Suite 240
Sacramento, CA 95826-3904
916-875-8400
The permit application will be reviewed by staff within one
business day.
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Q: |
What if I'm not sure
if my parcel is served by public sewer or a septic system? |
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A: |
Water Protection staff can tell
you if you have a septic system (916-875-8440). If
you want to check if public sewer is available, contact
Sacramento County Water Quality at 916-875-6730 or
visit their web site at
www.msa.saccounty.net/waterquality.
Please note that County Code requires that if public sewer
is available within 200' of your property line, you MUST
hook up to public sewer when your septic system requires a
repair or fails.
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Q: |
Can I connect more
than one building to a single septic system? |
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A: |
In some cases, it is possible to
connect an additional mobile home or ancillary building to
your existing septic system, provided the existing system is
capable of handling the additional load. Contact the Water
Protection staff at 916-875-8400 for further information.
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Q: |
Do I need to take out
a permit to repair my existing septic system? |
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A: |
Repairs such as pumping out your
septic tank or de-rooting your lines do not require a
permit. Other, more extensive work may require a permit.
Visit the Septic Tank Permit Process page for permit
requirements.
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Q: |
When do
I need a Well permit? |
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A: |
If you are constructing, repairing,
modifying, inactivating or destroying a well (municipal,
domestic, monitoring, extraction, cathodic protection,
geothermal heat exchange), advancing a soil boring to within
10 feet of first groundwater, or repairing or replacing a
well pump or vault box, you need to obtain a permit from the
Water Protection Division (WPD) prior to starting your field
work.
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Q: |
How do I
Obtain a Well permit? |
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A: |
To apply
for a permit from the Water Protection Division (WPD),
visit the Wells Program web page
for the Well Application & Permit form and the Site Plan
form. Send the form(s) and appropriate permit fees to the Water
Protection Division at:
Sacramento County Environmental Management
Attn: Water Protection Division
8475 Jackson Road, Suite 240,
Sacramento, CA 95826.
Permit applications may be mailed or hand delivered to the
address above, or they may be faxed to (916) 875-8513.
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Q: |
Who may
sign the Well Permit Application? |
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A: |
The Water Protection
Division (WPD) issues well permits to the following
entities:
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The legal owner of the
property on which the well or boring is to be drilled;
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The C-57 licensed well
drilling contractor that will drill the well or boring;
or
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An authorized
representative of the property owner or well drilling
contractor.
Property owners must be
verifiable by County Assessor’s records. If the property is
owned by a corporation, the signature must be that of an
officer of that corporation. If the well drilling
contractor submits the permit, the signature must be that of
a sole proprietor, partner, officer, “Responsible Managing
Owner” (RMO) or “Responsible Managing Employee” (RME),
verifiable via the California Contractors’ State License
Board (CSLB) website. If a property owner or a well
drilling contractor wishes to authorize a representative to
sign on their behalf, a completed “Property Owner’s
Authorization Letter” or “Well Driller’s Authorization
Letter” must be submitted with the application.
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Q: |
How much
do Permits cost? |
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A: |
The WPD does not depend on general funds for the
administration of its programs, so the WPD must recover 100%
of the cost of program and support staff through fees. WPD’s
well permit fees are directly related to the amount of time
staff must spend in the office and in the field to process
permit applications and conduct applicable inspections.
Please see our
current Water Protection fee schedule
for details.
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Q: |
May I
pay my fees by credit card? |
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A: |
The cashiering office accepts cash, checks, VISA and
MasterCard payments. The cashiering office is open between
the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, and cashiering staff may
be reached by telephone at (916) 875-8481.
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Q: |
How much
advance notice do I need to give the Water Protection
Division (WPD) for inspections? |
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A: |
Grout inspection appointments should be scheduled via the
grout inspection line (916) 875-8524 at least 24 hours
in advance of the requested appointment time. You will
receive a confirmation call back from our administrative
support staff when an inspector has been assigned to your
project. You will be given the inspector’s name and
telephone number(s) when you receive your confirmation call.
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Q: |
How long
will it take to get my Permit(s) approved? |
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A: |
The standard turnaround time for a complete permit
application package is one week (5 working days) from the
day we receive the application to the day we approve the
application. Permit applications may be expedited for an
additional non-refundable fee of .5 hours at the current
hourly rate per project (Expedite fee = $97 for 08/09;
please see the Water Protection
fee schedule for updated information.) Complete
expedited permit applications are generally approved within
1-2 business days of receipt.
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Q: |
What if
I need an Inspection on a weekend, County Holiday or outside
the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.? |
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A: |
If we have an
inspector willing to work overtime on your project and you
agree pay our overtime rate of 1.5 times the current hourly
rate for
travel and inspection time, you may schedule your
inspections outside our normal business hours. Please
initiate your request through the grout inspection line
(916) 875-8524 and our scheduling staff will ascertain
whether an inspector is available to work overtime on
your project.
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Q: |
May I
change my inspection time if my field work goes faster or
slower than I thought it would? |
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A: |
If you
need to change your inspection time, please call your inspector
immediately. The Water Protection Division (WPD) strives to accommodate all requests for
inspection appointments. We will do our best to provide you
with an inspector at the time you request your inspection.
Please be advised that if you cancel an inspection after our
inspector has mobilized to your project, you will be
responsible for the cost of travel to and from your project.
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Q: |
What do
I do if my inspector doesn't show up? |
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A: |
If your
inspector does not show up at the appointed time, call them
on their cell phone. (You will be provided with that number
when the appointment is scheduled.) If you are unable to reach your
inspector by cell, call the Water Protection Division main telephone number:
(916) 875-8400.
Permission to proceed is required prior to
the commencement of sealing operations on a regulated
project. Failure to obtain permission to proceed prior to
sealing may result in administrative enforcement action,
including the imposition of monetary penalties.
EMD
Well Program Contact List
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Q: |
What
does the inspector need to see? |
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A: |
The main purpose of a well inspection is to confirm
compliance with the provisions contained in our well
ordinance pertaining to seal preparation and placement. When
the inspector arrives onsite, he or she should be able to:
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Confirm the depth of the interval to be sealed.
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Witness the
preparation of sealing material if it is mixed onsite.
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Check
the load receipts if the sealing material is trucked in.
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Witness the placement of the sealing material.
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Q: |
What are
acceptable sealing materials for wells and borings? |
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A: |
Acceptable sealing materials include:
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Neat cement (5-6
gallons water per 94-lb sack of Portland cement),
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Sand
cement (188 lb sand and 94 lb Portland cement with 7 gallons
water, or
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“10.3 sack mix”), and concrete (“6 sack mix” with
aggregate ≤1/5 the radial thickness of the seal).
Bentonite
is allowed as an additive to cement-based sealing materials
at a ratio of up to 6% by weight of cement used, or as a
foundation or transition seal. High solids bentonite slurry
and bentonite pellets or chips may also be approved by the
Water Proection Division (WPD) on a case-by-case basis.
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Q: |
When do
I need to submit a "Well Completion Report?" |
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A: |
A “Well Completion Report” (DWR Form 188)
must be submitted to the Water Protection Division (WPD) and
the California Department of Water Resources within 60
days of the construction, repair, modification or
destruction of a well. “Well Completion Reports” are not
required for soil borings.
Please visit
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Well
Completion Reports for more information.
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Q: |
Why did
I receive a bill from the Water Protection Division? |
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A: |
Total fees for a project will depend upon
the number of permits in the project, our travel time to and
from the site, whether the inspections can be consolidated,
whether mechanical difficulties occur during seal placement,
whether the drilling crew is ready at the scheduled
inspection time, and what the method of seal preparation and
placement is. Once the staff time covered by the permit fees
is expended, additional time necessary to complete
regulatory tasks will be billed to the applicant at our
current hourly rate.
Invoices are generated on the third
Tuesday of each month. Your inspector will have a running
log of the time spent on your project in your project file –
you may ask them for an estimate of the time you will be
billed on your last inspection for the project.
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Back to Top of Page
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Q: |
My bed
mattresses were contaminated in a flood. Should I throw them
out or keep them? If I keep them, how can I decontaminate
them? |
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A: |
It is better to throw contaminated mattresses out.
Disinfection of mattresses is very difficult and to be done
properly they would need to be processed by a commercial
facility. Thrift stores and other groups that recycle
household articles will not accept mattresses, even if they
appear to be in good shape, because of the difficulty and
high cost of properly disinfecting them.
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