CODE RED
  • Home
  • Departments
  • Calendar
  • News
  • About Caldwell
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Commissioners
    • Community Links
    • History of Caldwell County
  • Employment
  • Contact
    • Department Addresses and Phone Number
  • I Want To...
    • Apply for a County Job
    • See Job Vacancies
    • See a Map of My Property/County
    • Adopt a Pet
    • Apply for Food & Nutrition Services
    • Apply For a Gun Permit
    • Apply for Medicaid
    • Pay My Property Taxes
    • Pay My Water Bill
    • Become a Foster Parent
    • Drill a Well
    • Get a Marriage License
    • Get A Vaccine
    • See Bid Notices for Caldwell County
    • See Video of Commissioners Meetings
    • See Who Is In Jail
    • Register to Vote
    • Report Adult or Child Abuse
    • Report a Missing or Damaged Street Sign
    • Reserve a Meeting Room at the Caldwell County Water Department
    • See Information About Women's Health
    • See Information About Men's Health
CODE RED
  • Home
  • Departments
    • 911 Communications
    • Administration
    • Animal Control
    • Board of Elections
    • Building Inspections
    • Caldwell County Government Channel
    • Caldwell County Severe Weather Center
    • Convenience Centers/Recycling
    • Cooperative Extension Service
    • COVID-19
    • Economic Development Commission
    • Emergency Management
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Emergency Services
    • Environmental Health
    • Finance
    • Fire Marshal's Office
    • GIS/Addressing E911
    • Health Department
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Land Records & Mapping
    • Planning & Development
    • Public Facilities
    • Public Information
    • Public Library
    • Register of Deeds
    • Sheriff's Office
    • Social Services
    • Soil & Water Conservation
    • Tax Office
    • Veterans Services
    • Water
  • Calendar
  • News
  • About Caldwell
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Commissioners
    • Community Links
    • History of Caldwell County
  • Employment
  • Contact
    • Department Addresses and Phone Number
  • I Want To...
    • Apply for a County Job
    • See Job Vacancies
    • See a Map of My Property/County
    • Adopt a Pet
    • Apply for Food & Nutrition Services
    • Apply For a Gun Permit
    • Apply for Medicaid
    • Pay My Property Taxes
    • Pay My Water Bill
    • Become a Foster Parent
    • Drill a Well
    • Get a Marriage License
    • Get A Vaccine
    • See Bid Notices for Caldwell County
    • See Video of Commissioners Meetings
    • See Who Is In Jail
    • Register to Vote
    • Report Adult or Child Abuse
    • Report a Missing or Damaged Street Sign
    • Reserve a Meeting Room at the Caldwell County Water Department
    • See Information About Women's Health
    • See Information About Men's Health
Environmental Health
Contact This Department  
Environmental Health
828-426-8579
FAX (828) 757-6864
2345 Morganton Blvd., Lenoir, NC 28645
You can send us a quick message here:
Department Menu
  • Home
  • Child Care Centers & Schools
  • Food, Lodging & Institutions
  • Lead Investigation
  • On-Site Water Protection
  • Public Swimming Pools
  • Tattoo Parlor Permits
  • Health Department Home Page
  • Documents
  • Events

On-Site Water Protection

Septic System Program | Water & Wells Program

For new applications, please call 828-426-8579.

On-site Wastewater (Septic) Program

On-site Waste Water (Septic) Program North Carolina general statutes state that a person owning or controlling a residence, place of business, or place of public assembly shall provide an approved sanitary sewage system. As a result, the Commission for Health Services has compiled rules and regulations addressing the placement, design, installation, and maintenance of subsurface ground absorption sewage disposal systems. The Environmental Health program at Caldwell County Health Department acts as agents of the NC Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that these rules and regulations are enforced and the public's health is protected.

Applications for Permits for Sewage Disposal Systems and Wells

Applications for lot evaluations for a subsurface sewage disposal permit can be made at the Caldwell County Health Department Central Permitting Office (2345 Morganton Blvd. Lenoir NC 28645). An application fee is required as well as site plan for the proposed property improvements. The Environmental Health Specialist will make a site evaluation based on the following factors:

  • Topography and landscape position
  • Soil characteristics
  • Soil wetness
  • Soil depth
  • Restrictive horizons
  • Available space

Once the lot has been evaluated and approved a Septic Improvement Permit and an Authorization to Construct a subsurface sewage disposal system is issued. The Authorization to construct is required to obtain building permits from the Caldwell County Central Permitting office. Once the septic system is installed, another inspection is performed to ensure the system was installed in accordance with the laws and rules of North Carolina. 

For more information find the documents below:

  • Septic System Rules
  • Septic System Record Request
  • Septic Permit Application
  • Compliance Visit Form
  • Authorized Agent Form
  • Site Preparation Instructions for New Septic System and Wells

For more information about on-site wastewater (septic) program, visit the following NC Public Health links:

  • Environmental Health Services Section Administrative Rules
  • On-site Wastewater Contractor Certification Board

Back to Top

Water and Well Program

Applications for new well installation, well repair or abandonment can be made at the Caldwell County Health Department Central Permitting office. An application fee is required as well as site plan for the proposed property improvements for new wells. The Environmental Health Specialist will ensure your well is installed, repaired or abandoned in accordance with the laws and rules of North Carolina that are established to protect our ground water resources from contamination for current well users and future generations.

An inspection is required during different stages of construction, repair or abandonment as follows:

Field Evaluation

A Caldwell County Environmental Health Specialist will conduct a detailed field evaluation of the topography, landscape position, available space and potential sources of groundwater contamination on or around the site on which your private drinking water well is to be located. The location of the well indicated by the EHS is to provide protection from possible sources of contamination. Flow volume (well yield) is NOT guaranteed at any site by CCHD.

Grout Inspection

The EHS will return to your site during construction of the well to verify well placement and proper grouting of the well.

Wellhead Inspection and Certificate of Completion (COC)

After the pump is installed the EHS will return to your site to inspect the wellhead to verify that well construction is complete and in accordance with applicable laws and rules of North Carolina.

Final power cannot be granted or the well placed into service until a certificate of completion is issued by the EHS indicating the wellhead is approved.

Water Samples

  • Water samples for bacteriologic and inorganic chemical contamination are required to be taken by CCHD within 30 days of the issuance of the COC per 15A NCAC 18A .3802.
  • It is the legal responsibility of the well owner to provide access to a source of power for the purpose of collecting the required water samples.
  • If possible CCHD will take water samples during the same visit as the wellhead inspection. If this is not possible, CCHD relies on the well owner to contact the Health Department when power has been provided to the pump and the chlorine used to disinfect the well is no longer detectable in the well water.
  • Once the water samples have been analyzed by the lab CCHD will notify the well owner of the results by phone and send a copy of the lab report along with information and recommendations regarding the sample test results.

For More information on Wells see Documents below:

  • Well Permit Application 
  • How to Disinfect your Water Well
  • Properly Constructed Well Head
  • Site Preparation Instructions for New Well System

  • Water Sample Request

Well Disinfection Guidance:

  • How to Disinfect Your Water Well

Well Laws and Rules:

  • NC Administrative Code Title 15A (Well Construction Standards)
  • Rules Govering the Protection of Water Supplies at Permitting Establishments- 15A NCAC 18A.1700
  • Private Drinking Water Well Sampling
  • Permitting & Inspection of Private Drink Water Wells
  • HB 2873 (Well Statutes)

For more information about the water and well program, visit the following NC Public Health links.

  • On-site Water Protection
  • Private Wells Resources

Back to Top

© 2021 Caldwell County Government
  • Surplus Equipment
  • Employee Portal
  • Employee Webmail
  • Terms of Use
website hosting via
nickgreene.com