Community Sanitation

The community sanitation program addresses environmental health issues within the community.

• Door to door surveys include education about conditions that breed mosquitoes and rat harborage.
• Complaints address nuisances, rat control and solid waste issues and;
• Ensure:
  • vacant lots are cleared,
  • abandoned buildings are rat proofed or demolished to prevent rats,
  • air-borne nuisances such as odors, smoke and other pollutants of the environment are eliminated.

Drinking Water

Some areas of Fulton County are not served by a municipal water supply, therefore individual water supplies (wells) are used to provide a clean and healthy source of drinking water. Staff permit, inspect and collect bacteriological samples to ensure wells are properly located and constructed to minimize the possibility of sewage or other contaminants from entering the well and/or groundwater.

Drought conditions can result in lower water quality in the aquifer, the underground water source where your well water is drawn. When rainfall is less than normal, the aquifer is not “recharged” and decreases in volume. Not only can the well eventually become dry, harmful contaminants can become more concentrated. Fulton County Environmental Health Services provide a bacteriological well water sampling service for well owners to detect contaminants that could be harmful to you or your family. We strongly recommend that well owners have their well water sampled at least annually and more often if contamination is suspected or confirmed. To schedule collection of a water sample from your well, please contact our district office where your property is located.

To use recycled water around the garden, please download our brochure below on using gray water:

our "Gray Water Usage" brochure

our "Water Advisory Memo" for Water related Emergencies

 

Food Services

Visitors and citizens often frequent the 4,500 restaurants in Fulton County and enjoy the cuisine without a thought of becoming ill. This possibility is greatly reduced because all food service establishments (restaurants) in Fulton County are permitted and inspected by our staff. Plans of all new establishments are reviewed and approved per the regulation requirements. Inspections assure proper sanitation practices that minimize hazards from cross contamination, improper cooking, handling and temperature maintenance of foods, potable water contamination, improper garbage and refuse disposal and poor insect and rodent control. Staff investigate complaints concerning improper practices in food handling could lead to foodborne illnesses. All food service establishments must have a valid permit and a current license from this department to operate.

Lead

Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, soil, air, household dust, food, certain types of pottery, etc. It is especially dangerous to young children, expectant mothers and their fetuses. Our office collects samples of paint and dust in the homes of children diagnosed with elevated lead blood levels and analyzed for lead content. If there is lead present in the home, the property owner is advised of mitigation methods to reduce the exposure of children to lead in the home.

Nuisances

Nuisances are anything that is dangerous to human life or health or whatever renders or tends to render soil, air, water or food impure or unwholesome. Complaints about nuisances are investigated to ensure: vacant lots are cleared, abandoned buildings are rat proofed or demolished to prevent rats, air-borne nuisances such as odors, smoke and other pollutants of the environment are eliminated and surveys conducted to educate the public about conditions that breed mosquitoes and other insects.

Radon Gas

Radon is a colorless, odorless and invisible gas that is produced from the breakdown of radium, which is naturally found in the soil. It is second only to tobacco as the leading cause of lung cancer in the nation. Staff provides educational material to inform citizens of the environmental and health hazards of radon gas in the home and workplace.

Rats

Rats are found worldwide. They spoil food and carry diseases. The rat program was created to enforce the Fulton County Rat Control Article, educate the public of potential health hazards and minimize exposure to rats. The staff enforces this article through investigating complaints, responding to rat bait requests and educating citizens in effective eradication of rats.

Single-family homeowners in Fulton County are eligible to receive rat control materials at no charge. Call the Central District office at 404-730-1301 to request this service. An inspection of the property is required to identify any condition that is considered as rat harborage or food for rats, which must be eliminated before rat control materials are issued. We do not dispense rat control materials at the department health center. It is strongly recommended that if you are experiencing a rat problem inside your home, you should “rat-proof” the entire building to keep rats and other invaders out – see link below to help you identify entry points

our "Facts About Rats Brochure"

our "Rat-Proofing Your Home" fact sheet

Residential Development

Any division of property (single lot or subdivision) within Fulton County must undergo a platting process. Also a plan review is required by this department if onsite sewage disposal and/or individual drinking water supplies are proposed. Staff review plans for development of property to insure properly sized lots and that all provisions for onsite sewage disposal and individual water supplies are met.

Sewage Disposal

Areas of Fulton County that are not served by public sanitary sewer are developed utilizing individual onsite sewage management systems for the treatment of the sewage generated from the residential or commercial structure. Staff permit and inspect these systems to ensure they are properly sized, located and installed to minimize the adverse environmental impact of sewage disposed on the ground surface and/or in groundwater supplies.

• Commercial System Data Requirements
• Homeowners Septic System Guide and Maintenance Record File

All commercial facilities (except banking institutions) must provide adequate solid waste provisions for the handling and storage of the waste generated from each facility. Staff review/approve construction plans and perform final inspections to ensure adequate capacity andproper location to minimize odors, insects and/or rodent infestation.

• Solid Waste Management Permits and Procedures

Any event that attracts 50 people or more and lasts for 2 hours or more is considered a special event. Fulton County is host to the most special events in the state and this program has been enhanced to address the many health issues present at these events. These events must have adequate provisions for sewage disposal, solid waste and drinking water available. If food will be served other than prepackaged, then permits must be secured for each vendor. Staff provides the inspections and permits for these events. Certain events, however, are exempt from securing a permit and staff inspections.

• Sponsored by a political subdivision of this state or by an organization exempt from taxes,
• Last 120 hours or less and
• Be permitted by the county or a municipality within the county.

"Special Events Organizer Information Packet""

Swimming Pools

Citizens and visitors enjoy the 1200+ public swimming pools with the confidence that the water is clean and safe. Assurance of clean and safe pools by the owners is partially due to the permitting requirements and routine inspections by our staff. All swimming pools, other than home pools, are permitted on an annual basis and inspections are performed routinely based on their operating season. Plans of all new pools are reviewed and approved per the regulation requirements prior to construction.

A federal law governing main drain covers was passed in 2007 that requires manufacturers and pool owners to comply with new standards by December 20, 2008. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2008” (VGB Act) is a federal mandate that requires all pool main drain covers be compliant with the standards of the Act. The VGB Act also requires main drain cover manufacturers to produce compliant covers by December 20, 2008.

Each pool in Fulton MUST have two (2) or more main drains with the new, federal VGB Act-compliant covers by December 20, 2008. Each pool must have compliant drain covers BEFORE placed into operation after December 20, 2008. Fulton County Article XII, “Swimming Pools and Natural Bathing Beaches", requires modification permit application to be completed and submitted prior to installation to verify compliance. We want to be aware of which pools in Fulton County have replaced their main drain covers so that your pool will be one step closer to being permitted for operation in 2009 without delay.

The Fulton County pool code mandates a maximum velocity through pool main drain covers of 1.5 feet per second.

In determining compliance with the VGB Act and Fulton County code, use the following formula for pools with two main drains:

 

.321 x pool design flowrate (gpm) = velocity (fps) velocity must be < 1.5 fps

open area of cover (sq. in.)

 

 

If velocity exceeds 1.5 fps, then you should select another main drain cover or you may need to add more main drain boxes or sumps in your pool in order to reduce the velocity.

IMPORTANT!! Be sure to provide a copy of a letter (see link below for acceptable sample copy) from the pool owner or authorized agent for the owner certifying the main drain covers in your pool have been replaced with new, VGB Act and Fulton County code-compliant covers, when the inspector comes to your pool for annual permitting. Operation permits for pools operated year round expire March 1, 2009, and May 1, 2009 for pools operated on a seasonal basis. Please click on the links belowto learn more about the VGB Act and what you will need to do to avoid delays in getting your pool permitted for operation for 2009. See link below for letter sent to all pool owners for more information about the VGB Act and what is required for permitting. If you have any questions, please contact the office below in the district where your pool is located.

 

 

"Letter to pool owners on Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act"

 

"Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Survey Form"

"ASME standart-main drain covers"

 

http://www.apsp.org/32/index.aspx

 

www.cpsc.gov/volstd/pools/gcletter_fl.pdf

 

www.cpsc.gov/phth/vgpsa.pdf

What to do for a fecal, blood or vomitus Accident at your pool:

• Fecal, Blood, Vomitus Incident Guidelines
• Fecal, Vomitus and Blood Management
• Reducing Risk of Disease Transmission
• Six Pleas For Healthy Swimming

Application for permit to operate an existing pool (please fill the form online, print and mail it to us, as instructed on the letter you have received from us.)	If You did not receive an invoice for your pool(s) by April 30, 2008, please contact Mary Shorter at (404) 730-1234. Also refer to the annual pool letter below for more details about obtaining a permit for your pool.	"Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act"
"Application for Permit to Operate an Existing Pool"	"Annual Pool Letter"	"Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act"
"Frequently asked questions about the Federal Pool & Spa Safety Act"	"Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act Interpretation"	" Application for a Swimming Pool Modification"

Citizens and visitors enjoy the 130+ tourist accommodations (hotels, motels) throughout Fulton County. All tourist accommodations must have a permit and a current license from this department to operate. Staff inspect these facilities routinely to ensure they are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and in accordance with state law.

Below are the dates and scores of the most recent inspections of the permitted tourist accommodations. Each facility is required to receive an unannounced inspection at least twice annually. Inspections are conducted by a qualified Environmental Health Specialist according to the Rules and Regulations for operating a tourist accommodations set forth by the State of Georgia (Chapter 290-5-18).

"Tourist Accomodation Plan Review Fee Shedule"
"Tourist Accomodation Inspection Records For the North District"	"Tourist Accomodation Inspection Records For the Central District"	"Tourist Accomodation Inspection Records For the South District"

 

Zoning Review

Property owners that propose a use of property that is not allowed under its current zoning use, the owner or agent is required to go through the rezoning process for approval and to insure the change will not have an adverse effect on the community. Each zoning case in Fulton County is reviewed by this office, which provides comments pertaining to water and sewer connections and other regulatory requirements that would become conditions of the zoning approval. These comments are provided to the Zoning Board for use during the monthly zoning hearings.

Fulton County Code of Ordinances and Code Resolutions

• ARTICLE IV – DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
• ARTICLE V – FOOD SERVICE (effective February 1, 2009)
• ARTICLE VII – NUISANCES (effective February 1, 2009)
• ARTICLE IX – RAT CONTROL (effective February 1, 2009)
• ARTICLE X – SOLID WASTE (effective February 1, 2009)
• ARTICLE XI – SEWAGE DISPOSAL
• ARTICLE XII – SWIMMING POOLS & NATURAL BATHING BEACHES (effective February 1, 2009)
• ARTICLE XIII -- TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS
• GEORGIA SMOKEFREE AIR ACT OF 2005(effective February 1, 2009)
  

Full time Summer internship at CDC for Undergraduate College Students at Environmental Public Health at the NationalCenter for Environmental Health /Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) in Atlanta, Georgia at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/cleh .

• National Environmental Health Association
• International Federation of Environmental Health
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control Web site
• http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html

Central District Office